College Park Nursery School

College Park Nursery School is a cooperative, part-time preschool program where families participate in the classroom as aides, helping with tasks such as sweeping floors, bringing classroom snacks, building toy towers, and helping students navigate new social interactions. Participating adults co-op in their child’s classroom on a rotating basis, with schedules generated months in advance, and licensing regulations do not allow siblings or other children to accompany them on their co-oping day. College Park Nursery School states that it recognizes the important role of families in their child’s education, cherishes the important role of play and the outdoors, believes in the power of child-led learning and inquiry, provides a relaxed atmosphere for children and families, aims to build a community where all learn from each other, aims to be affordable, flexible and accessible, promotes and values diversity in all its forms, supports social and emotional development, and prepares children to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Part-time preschool program running from September to May, with an optional Summer program in June

College Park Nursery School states that its mission is to provide a nurturing and child-centered education where children are given freedom to play, explore and grow at their own pace, and where families are empowered to participate. It is a cooperative, or co-op, preschool where each family is assigned a family job to support school operations and build community for the entire school year, and families are deeply involved in the classroom while also helping with administration and facilities operations. All families are required to attend an annual orientation at the beginning of each school year, a “Big Clean” event in August, and 3 out of 4 membership meetings annually, and they are expected to participate in various school events such as the annual Trash-A-Thon fundraiser in April and various community socials. Families who are not able to co-op full-time in the classroom can buy out, either fully or partially, by paying an additional monthly fee, and there is a limited number of spots for the full and half buyout per class. Co-oping adults must complete state-required documentation, background checks, and training, and mothers, fathers, grandparents, or other primary caregivers such as nannies or au pairs may co-op in the classroom as long as they complete the required paperwork, background checks, and training. College Park Nursery School states, “We aren’t your typical daycare,” and also states that it aims to build a community where all learn from each other and that this family involvement is at the core of the school’s model and helps keep education affordable and accessible. College Park Nursery School, Inc. states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other school-administered programs.

Last updated July 20, 2026.