Frequently Asked Questions

New to co-op preschool? Deciding if ICP is right for your family? We've answered the most common questions below. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact us — we'd love to chat.

About Inglemoor Cooperative Preschool

What is a co-op preschool?

A cooperative preschool — or "co-op" — is a school where parents are active participants in their child's education alongside trained teachers. At ICP, parents rotate into the classroom on a scheduled basis, assist on the playground, and attend monthly parent education events. It's a model that benefits everyone: children get more individual attention, parents stay closely connected to their child's learning, and the whole school builds a genuine community.

How is a co-op preschool different from a regular preschool?

At a traditional preschool, parents drop off and pick up. At ICP, parents are partners. You'll work in the classroom once weekly, attend family education evenings with speakers on child development topics, and take on a small volunteer role that helps keep the school running — things like classroom prep, fundraising, or communications. Because parents share in the work of running the school, tuition stays significantly lower than at comparable private preschools.

Is a co-op preschool right for my family?

Co-op preschools are a great fit for families who want to be closely involved in their child's early education, value a strong parent community, and are able to commit a few hours per month to classroom participation. If work schedules make regular classroom volunteering difficult, we'd encourage you to reach out — we can walk you through what the commitment actually looks like and help you decide together.

Does ICP prepare children for kindergarten?

Yes. Our Pre-K class is specifically designed to ease the transition to kindergarten while staying true to our play-based philosophy. Children are introduced to letter sounds and recognition, number concepts, and early writing alongside the same exploratory, social learning that defines all ICP classes. Our goal is a child who enters kindergarten curious, confident, and socially capable — not just academically drilled.

What is "parent education" and do I have to attend?

Each month, ICP holds a Family Education event featuring guest speakers and group discussions on topics relevant to raising young children — things like managing big emotions, developmental milestones, sibling dynamics, and school readiness. These events are a valued part of the ICP experience and attendance is expected as part of your co-op participation.

Programs & Curriculum

What age groups does ICP serve?

ICP offers four classes for children aged 9 months through 5 years:

Toddler Class: 9 to 24 months (Wednesday mornings)
2/3 Class: 2 to 3 years (Wednesday and Friday mornings)
3/4 Class: 3 to 4 years (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings)
Pre-K Class: 4 to 5 years (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons)
Multi-Age Playgroup: 1-5 years (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings)

Children must meet the minimum age for their class by August 31 of the enrollment year.

What age groups does ICP serve?

Play-based learning means children explore, discover, and develop skills through guided play rather than traditional instruction. At ICP, you won't find worksheets or rote memorization — instead, children learn through art, dramatic play, sensory exploration, music, movement, storytelling, and outdoor time. Research consistently shows that play is the most effective vehicle for early childhood development, building language, problem-solving, creativity, and social-emotional skills simultaneously.

Is ICP affiliated with any larger educational institution(s)?

Yes. ICP is part of the Shoreline Community College Parent Education Program, which means our co-op model is backed by college-level curriculum and oversight. Parents enrolled at ICP are also Shoreline Community College students, which supports the parent education component of our program. Learn more at shoreline.edu/parenting-education.

Tuition & Enrollment

How much does ICP cost?

ICP is one of the most affordable preschool options in the Kirkland area. Monthly tuition for the 2026–2027 school year:

Class	Monthly ICP Tuition
Toddler (9–24 months)	$80/month
2/3 Class (2–3 years)	$175/month
3/4 Class (3–4 years)	$210/month
Pre-K (4–5 years)	$260/month
Multi-Age Playgroup	$75/month - 1 day per week
	$140/month - 2 days per week
	$200/month - 3 days per week

A $40 materials fee applies to all classes. Shoreline Community College tuition is billed separately by quarter ($62/quarter for Toddler and 2/3; $93/quarter for 3/4, Pre-K, and Multi-Age Playgroup). Registration fees are $50 for the Toddler class, $25 for the Multi-Age Playgroup, and $100 for all other classes.

Why is ICP so much more affordable than other preschools?

Because ICP is a non-profit cooperative, parent participation replaces much of the staffing cost that drives up tuition at private preschools. Families share in the work of running the school, which keeps costs low for everyone. The Shoreline Community College affiliation also provides infrastructure and support that further reduces overhead.

Can I tour the school before enrolling?

Absolutely — we encourage it. Classroom tours are by appointment only (to minimize disruption for our students), and we ask that you leave children at home so you can focus on the visit. Fill out the contact form and our registrar will follow up to schedule a time. In the summertime, ICP offers three dates for Popsicles and Play - allowing families to tour the classroom, while simultaneously socializing in our outdoor space.

What if I have a new baby during the school year?

Each family is eligible for six weeks of maternity leave following the birth of a baby. During this period, the parent responsible for classroom participation is not required to fulfill their workday. Newborns up to 1 year old are welcome to attend class in a front carrier and must be registered for insurance purposes (a $25 registration fee applies).

Location & Logistics

Where is ICP located?

Inglemoor Cooperative Preschool is located at 125 State St S, Kirkland, WA 98033, in downtown Kirkland.

Still have questions?

Schedule a tour and we'll do our best to answer all your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Inglemoor Cooperative Preschool

What is a co-op preschool?

How is a co-op preschool different from a regular preschool?

Is a co-op preschool right for my family?

Does ICP prepare children for kindergarten?

Does ICP offer music education?

What is "parent education" and do I have to attend?

Programs & Curriculum

What age groups does ICP serve?

What age groups does ICP serve?

Is ICP affiliated with any larger educational institution(s)?

Tuition & Enrollment

How much does ICP cost?

Why is ICP so much more affordable than other preschools?

When does enrollment open?

Can I tour the school before enrolling?

What if I have a new baby during the school year?

Location & Logistics

Where is ICP located?

What areas do ICP families typically come from?

How do I get in touch with ICP?

Still have questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

About Inglemoor Cooperative Preschool

What is a co-op preschool?

Programs & Curriculum

What age groups does ICP serve?

Tuition & Enrollment

Why is ICP so much more affordable than other preschools?

Location & Logistics

Where is ICP located?

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Still have questions?