Teachers plan and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Parents assist in the classroom and perform administrative duties. Parent educators advise teachers and help parents build parenting skills.
The NSCC co-op preschools follow the Seattle Public School academic year, running from September through May. Co-ops are age-based, with parents working one day each week.
| Type of Co-op | Min. Age by 8/31 | Class Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | less than 1 year old | 1 day/wk for 2 hrs |
| Toddlers | 1 year old | 1 day/wk for 2 hrs |
| Pre-3s | 2 years old | 2 days/wk for 2 hrs/day |
| 3-5s | 3 years old | 3-4 days/wk for 2.5 hrs/day |
| Fives | 5 years old | 4 days/wk - time varies |
Some co-ops share a common location, in which case they alternate class days and share cleaning duties and capital improvement projects. Some co-ops share teachers, too. All co-ops offer a high adult-to-student ratio and tuition that is significantly below that of comparable private preschools, due to parental participation in the classroom.
Open registration is the process whereby new families register their children for co-op spaces. It is held early in the year for fall entry.