A cooperative preschool is a parent/child participation program. Parents enroll in a parent education program at Bates Technical College, and enroll their child in the cooperative preschool of their choice. While parents are enrolled in the program, they earn college credit in a continuing education program. (You do not have to be a college student to enroll your child).

Bates-trained cooperative preschool teachers plan the curriculum. The parents’ job is to help conduct the non-profit business of the preschool and ‘work’ in the classroom on a rotation or schedule.

We have three classes: 2's Class, 3's/4's Class, and Pre-K or 4's/5's class. Find more information about our classes under the "Classes" section on our Main Site. 

2022-23 School Year:

Red class 2's: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 am to 11:00 am 

Yellow class 3's: Monday/Wednesday/ Friday 9:30 am to 11:30 am 

Pre-K 4's and 5's: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm 

Yes. One parent each class is assigned to bring a nutritious snack to share (8-15 children, 2-4 adults). Some suggestions are: apples, bananas, halved grapes, oranges, dried apricots, raisins, applesauce, carrots and dip, celery with cheese or hummus, olives, pickles, pretzels, graham or cheese crackers, tortillas with jelly spread, cooked pasta, yogurt, cheese sticks. We are a peanut free school. There are several possibilities and we do take into consideration allergies and food preferences. We serve only water to drink.

Steilacoom Cooperative Preschool is a non-profit organization. The tuition we collect on a monthly basis does not cover all of our expenses. In order to pay our teachers salary, buy school supplies, fund special programs, pay affiliate fees and accreditation fees we supplement with fundraising.

We have a board of directors comprised of parents who meet once a month to discuss school business and/or vote on important decisions. At a parent cooperative preschool, you the parents have the opportunity to be directly involved in your child’s’ education. The teachers are the only paid employees.

In order to keep tuition costs low, parents are expected to volunteer as assistant teachers in the classroom. Typically parents volunteer anywhere from 3-4 times a month, depending on the month and class size. We also require each family to join a committee at the beginning of the school year. This helps us share the workload and accomplish things like laundry, small maintenance projects or helping out the teacher with special projects. Check out our Parent Info page on or main site for more details!

Jobs and committee positions help keep the classroom in order.There is also opportunity to be a part of the preschool board that helps run the school for your position. Do you like to shop? Be our Costco/supply runner (you will get reimbursed). Are you good at fixing things? Mend books or repair broken toys. Do you like to teach little kids and are CPR certified? When the teacher is sick, be the substitute teacher. If you like putting together events and parties or like to encourage friendly competition to raise money for our school, join a committee. There are other jobs available and descriptions are in the Handbook.

Not at all! We ask that you keep a handful of diapers in the changing area. We have extra clothes just in case.

We  have a 1 adult for every 5 children in the classroom in the 3 to 5 year old classes and a 1 adult to every 3 children in the 2 year old class. 

Registration with Bates Technical College means that while parents are enrolled in the program, they earn college credit in a continuing education program. Working in the classroom is considered laboratory hours and attending parent education meetings is the lecture for the program. No other classroom time or visits to the Bates campus in Tacoma are required. You can also access the Bates Resource Center. They have a variety of supplies and equipment for creative activities you can do at home with your children or to help plan for activities at the preschool! 

Because we are affiliated with Bates Technical College, as a parent and member of SCP, you are also a student of Bates. We keep our costs low by being a co-op and partnering with Bates, however you will have to pay tuition! Fortunately the college fee is charged quarterly and will be factored into your tuition during the months of September, December and March. For the most up-to-date fee amounts, please view our Bates Affiliation page on our main site. 

Tuition is due on the 1st of the month. There is a 10 day  grace period and after that a late fee will be charged. Payment arrangements can be made if necessary.

Yes. We understand that preschool can sometimes cost a bit so we do offer financial assistance on an income based, as needed basis. Steilacoom Co-op also offers active duty military scholarships of 25% for tuition only. 

We rely on you, the parents to assist in this. It is our responsibility to deep clean the space we use. We want the Teacher to teach our children while we teach our children the importance of taking care of our space. Cleanings are held on one Saturday morning a month in classroom. Two – three people can get it done in 2-3 hours and every family is required to sign up for one time per school year. This involves bleaching all of the toys, scrubbing walls and floors and disinfecting the bathroom. 

You may either fill out the registration inquiry form on our main site, or Call (253) 905–6009  to see if there is space available in the class and to request a registration form. If your call goes to voicemail, please leave a message with your name , your child's birthdate and your phone number (please speak slowly and clearly). We may not answer during school hours or after hours, however  someone will return your call within 2 business days.