What Is A Coop?

A cooperative is a group of people who merge their resources to meet a common need. In a co-op, all members benefit in a combined and shared way, unlike in a traditional structure of a business, where there is a pyramid or sole ownership. The co-op alternative provides an empowering, democratic, and satisfying structure within which a common societal need can be met.

"Being a member of a co-op empowers one both as a conscious consumer and as an owner-member of a highly principled business."


About Cooperative Preschools

Foundations
"The first cooperative nursery school in the United States was started in 1916 by a group of twelve faculty wives at the University of Chicago. These women were responding to a new concern for the early pre-school years as valuable foundations for social and educational success." 1

"In California, the development of cooperatives was rapid. In 1927, Katharine Whiteside Taylor founded the Children's Community in Berkeley, California. Dr. Taylor is now widely recognized as the inspiration of the parent participation nursery school movement. Her concerns for the education of young children and parent involvement also included concern for families. Taylor and others worried about the degeneration of extended family networks. Nuclear families and women in particular, were increasingly isolated from associations and ties with other families. Cooperative preschools provided an opportunity for women and children to form family-like relationships with one another in a setting of reciprocal learning". 2

Benefits
Cooperative preschools are beneficial for Parents, Children and the Community.

For Parents
Parents gain insight into their child’s behavior by observing other children. They observe how other parents and the professional Teachers handle various situations and gain greater understanding and enjoyment of their own children through active participation in their education. They have the opportunity to share their experiences and expertise with others while working together in a cooperative setting. Through serving on the Board, parents learn about administration, running meetings and other skills useful to them in other areas and states of their lives. They also learn useful ideas for helping their children at home and in the world around them.

For Children
Children participate in a supervised play and learning experience with children of their own age. Equipment, materials and physical facilities are scaled to child size. An opportunity is provided to interact with adults other than their own parents. The children are able to find security and a feeling of belonging in a world, which is non-threatening and interested in them. Learning to respect and accept the rights and differences of others is emphasized. Children have hands-on experiences in creative arts, music, science, literature, and language geared to their needs and developmental level.

For the Community
Parents and children develop an extended family with friendships they carry through their lives. Parents gain a strong sense of responsibility and develop positive self worth, which carries over into every aspect of community life. The cooperative organization provides preschool experiences within the financial means of most families. 3


Our Cooperative

As a preschool cooperative, each family whose child attends the school is an owner and member of the co-op. With this come many privileges and obligations to the school.

What privileges do Co-op families receive?