2018-2019 APPLICATION

Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, Inc.

Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, Inc. is a parent-participatory model school. We believe that children thrive in a supportive environment created by active, informed parents and teachers. Our school year begins in September and ends in early June, following the Montgomery County Public School calendar for scheduled and weather closings. Parent participation in the classroom is a requirement, as are attendance at monthly membership meetings, participation in training sessions, and fulfillment of administrative and committee tasks. Meeting these requirements ensures the continued success of the School, supports a strong educational program, and results in cost-savings for member families.

The Cooperative School Classes

Class	Ages*	Days	Times	2017/18 Monthly Tuition**
				Bi-Weekly Coop	Weekly Coop
Bugs	2/3s	Th, F	9 – 11:30 AM	$217	N/A
Leaves	3/4s	M, T, W	8:30 – 11:30 AM	$351	$282 (limited)
Tracks	4/5s	M, T, W, Th, F	12 – 3 PM	$562 (limited)	$457

 

*Child must be lower age by 8/31.
**We estimate a 3-6% increase over current tuition rates for 2018-19.

About the Application Process

Admissions 2018-2019: Important Dates Information Sessions Tues, December 5th @7:30 PM Sat, January 6th @1PM Thurs, January 18th @7:30 PM Classroom Observations Weeks of December 4th, 11th; January 8th, 15th and January 22nd. Application Deadline Fri, February 2nd

We highly recommend that all parents, including those returning to the school with a sibling, attend both an Admissions Information Session and a Classroom Observation Tour in December or January.  The completed application form, a family photograph, and a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $60 ($45 each when applying for two children) must be received by 3PM on Friday, February 2, 2018 to be considered in the initial round of admissions decisions.

In the application that follows, you will be asked to answer the following questions/provide the following information.  Please be thorough in your answers.

1. Child/Family Information: Contact Information, etc.

2. Have you attended an information session?  Classroom observation?

3. How would you like The Cooperative School to contribute to your child's growth and development? 

4. Why are you interested in a parent cooperative model school for your family? 

5. As a cooperative, we rely on the diverse skills, resources, and volunteerism of member families in order to run the School. Please tell us how your family's experience and interests (both professional and otherwise) would help to support the community and strengthen the organization. 

6. Parents help operate the school by serving on either a Committee or Board position, described here. Which of these Committees or Board Positions suit your family, and why? 

7. Please upload a family photo.  Your file should be no larger than 500 kb and in either JPG or GIF format. 

8. How did you hear about us?

*If you are applying for the Leaves or the Tracks class, there is one additional required question:
Please tell us about your child. Choose the responses that best describe your child by sliding the tab along the bar. These prompts assist us in seeking to balance the class in three areas -- learning style, temperament, and personality. There are no right or wrong answers. We are seeking to build a community and a community is made up of all kinds of people.

If you have applied to the school for the previous year and would like to be considered for the upcoming year, you must submit another application, but the application fee for that child is waived.  Family photographs are a required part of the application, as they help us remember who you are and the conversations we have had with you.
 
Applicants who submit completed applications will be notified by mid-February. If your child is admitted to the School, a non-refundable deposit (applied toward future tuition) will be required.  

Admission Requirements

The Cooperative School does not admit students on a first-come, first-served basis. Rather, in making Admissions decisions, we are dedicated to seeking families  committed to sustaining our School's parent-participatory model and mission by creating class rosters that reflect our diverse community and are balanced in terms of age and gender.  

• Child must meet the age requirement to enroll:
  • 2 years old before September 1st for the Bugs (2s/3s) class
  • 3 years old before September 1st for the Leaves (3s/4s) class
  • 4 years old before September 1st for the Tracks (4s/5s) class
• Parents must be able to co-op in their children’s classes.
• Parents must be able to support and nurture all enrolled students’ learning styles and effectively assist the classroom teacher.
• Parents must be able to attend monthly evening training meetings.
• Parents must serve on the board of directors or on a committee and effectively complete the tasks required for supporting day-to-day operations and future planning.
• Applicants must meet the application deadline with an application completed in full (content, fee, photograph)
• Applicants must secure their placement with deposits and other admissions-related documentation within the specified time (usually within two weeks of application deadline).

In the pages that follow, you will find our online application. Please note that you can click on the "save and continue later" feature at the top of each page, so you do not have to complete the entire application in one sitting. If you are unable to apply electronically, please contact the Admissions team at admissions@tpcns.org or 301-585-7272 ext 2.