Denver Cooperative Preschool

2022-23 Family Cooperative Agreement

These are the terms of enrollment at the Denver Cooperative Preschool (DCP). DCP requires participation from every one of our families in order to maintain quality programming for our children and families. By choosing to be members of our cooperative preschool, we commit ourselves as parents to be a part of a team with the teachers, our children, and fellow parents in the community.

The following list includes six areas of responsibility in which each family is required to participate as a member of the DCP. As part of their commitment, each family should read DCP’s handbook which provides detailed information on the school’s philosophy, policies, and procedures as well as every family’s cooperative responsibilities. The DCP Family Handbook can be found at www.denvercooperativepreschool.org under “Enrolled Families.” An updated DCP Family Handbook for 2022-23 will be shared with families prior to the start of the school year.

Please review and initial each item to affirm your commitment (all six areas are required for enrollment at DCP). At the end of the document we ask that all parents/guardians sign the cooperative agreement. Thank you!

 

1. Classroom Support

We remain steadfast in the belief that connecting with children’s families in the classroom space is critical to holistically supporting the development of young children. 

While we do not have a specific number of days that we ask parents and caregivers to support the classroom, we do expect that families who join the cooperative want to participate in the classroom community to the extent they are able. We invite families to connect with their child's classroom in a way that excites them - our very best moments at DCP have occurred when members of our community authentically share themselves. This might be coming in to share a book, engage the children in a tradition or activity relevant to their family or the current curriculum exploration, or come in to enjoy lunch or outside time with the children.

Now that we have shifted to a longer school day, we are aware that many families aren't able to come support the classroom for the entire day (though we would welcome you to do so if you would like!) We envision parent support as a unique reflection of each classroom community. 

2. Committee Work

In keeping with the cooperative nature of DCP, every family is required to serve on one committee, as a committee chair, or on the school's Governing Board. Our hope is that families will select a committee that they feel best utilizes their talents and experience. Participation on a committee involves attending any and all necessary meetings ans executing all assigned tasks as communicated by the assigned committee chairperson. 

Committee sign-ups are self-selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The link to sign-up for your 2022-23 committee was included in the email with your enrollment packet. 

3. Indoor/School Clean-Up Tasks and Clean-Up Days

The school employs a full-time janitorial service for the daily cleaning and maintenance of the school. However, as a cooperative, we rely on our community structure to complete more extensive deep cleaning and maintenance of the indoor and outdoor areas at the school. 

A list of facility-wide clean-up tasks will be sent to the community in August. Every family in the cooperative is required to either sign-up for one clean-up task sometime during the school year, or to participate in a community-wide clean-up day if we are able to host them (dates will be sent in August). 

 

4. Fundraising

Each year, our fundraising committees work hard to plan events that aid in the important work of raising funds for our school. This is a vital component to how we are able to provide quality programming, take care of indoor and outdoor spaces, and meet 100% of our demonstrated need for families requesting scholarships. There are a variety of ways to participate and all we ask is that each family agree to participate in the events that make sense to their family, and to the best of their ability. We understand that many of the families in our community are currently facing challenging times, and we do not seek to place additional burden on our community through fundraising asks. DCP will seek to engage in fundraising activities that are sensitive to the current social and economic climate.

5. All Parent Meetings

At least one parent from each family must attend TWO All Parent Meetings every year. The Fall All Parent Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022 ​at 7:00 PM*. The Spring All Parent Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM*.

Please make note of these dates in your calendar and plan to have one adult representative from your family attend. The All Parent Meetings represent the only two times a year where our entire community comes together. This is a valuable time in which we communicate both short and long-term plans for the school, and honor our educators and volunteers. Please plan to have at least one adult representative from your family attend.

*We will update closer to the start of the year whether the 2022-23 meetings will be held in-person or virtually.

6. Additional Obligations

As a cooperative community, we rely on the committment of all stakeholders to maintain a high-quality early childhood program. Over the course of the year we may ask for volunteers to support with programs, events, or initiatives at the school. We ask that every family invest in and support the cooperative to the extent they are able. It is this care for the betterment of the DCP community as a whole that has resulted in over 60 years of a thriving early childhood space! 

Additionally, we ask that all members agree to be bound by the policies and procedures of the Denver Cooperative Preschool as they are stated in the school’s handbook, including any additions or amendments that may have been voted on by the parent body since its most recent publication, as well as any rules and regulations applicable to DCP as issued by the State of Colorado and the City and County of Denver.