Registration
Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year opens Saturday February 3, 2026. Classes will start in September and run through mid-June following the Seattle Public School’s calendar.
What It Means to Join Our Cooperative Preschool
A cooperative preschool is special—and different from a traditional drop-off program. At our co-op, school is something you and your child experience together. Families are active participants in the life of the classroom and the broader school community.
Parents serve as weekly classroom helpers, working alongside our teachers to support learning, model cooperation, and build strong relationships with children and other families. In addition, families with children in our tots, 2s, 3s, and Pre-K classes take on an in-class job or a board role that helps keep the school running. (Families in our Infant class are not required to hold a job, but are always welcome to participate if they choose.)
This shared responsibility is at the heart of the co-op model. Parents partner with teachers as teaching assistants, administrative supporters, and board members who help guide the vision and operations of the school. The result is a close-knit community, a deeper understanding of your child’s early learning experience, and a meaningful connection with other families.
Because families contribute time and skills, the co-op model also helps keep tuition costs lower while maintaining a high-quality program. For families who value involvement, collaboration, and community, a cooperative preschool can be a uniquely rewarding experience.
Membership at the co-op requires:
- Parents or caregivers volunteer one day per week in their child’s class.
- Parents & guardians attend parent education classes one evening per month in conjunction with North Seattle College.
- Families are required to have either a classroom or an all-school job, helping operate our school and keeping tuition costs affordable.
- Families are required to assist the all-school clean-up, held once at the end of the school year.
Family Involvement
QACP requires a cooperative effort. Parents and/or caregivers are involved in their child’s education both inside and outside the classroom.
In Class
Every member works one day a week in the classroom on a scheduled workday. In the Twos and Threes/Fives classes, if the member is unable to attend, they arrange a substitute (partner, nanny, grandparent, other cooperative parent). Additionally, parents rotate providing snack responsibilities.
Monthly Meetings
One or more caregivers from each family are required to attend a monthly parent meeting (Aug-May) to discuss class business with their preschool teacher and class parents and to meet with their parent educator who will present on a relevant parenting topic for the class. In September and April the class meeting is replaced with an All School Meeting.
Parent Education
One caregiver for each enrolled child must enroll with North Seattle Coops (NSC) for the related Parent Education course (included in tuition). Each class is assigned a parent educator who attends class one day per week, presents on a relevant developmental topic at monthly meetings, and provides 1:1 parent support as needed. Many parents list this as their favorite part of co-op, and it is an important part of our preschool culture.
Jobs
It takes a village to run a cooperative preschool so each family signs up for a class, All School, or Board job to support the school’s operational needs. Jobs include admissions, treasurer, class secretary, fundraising, class coordination and more. Expect to devote around 20 hours over the course of the school year to your co-op job.
All-school clean up
At the end of the school year, all members pitch in for a thorough classroom cleaning and a festive end-of-year picnic at a local park to kick off summer.
Fundraising
Ensuring our school’s financial stability is a crucial part of our job as QACP members. Each family is required to make a $120 fundraising contribution per school year. You will also have the opportunity to buy QACP t-shirts, placemats and other items throughout the year.