General Member Information

Parent Education Credits

As parents you have enrolled your child in the Cooperative Preschool Program and you have also enrolled yourself in the Bates Parent Education Program. The goal of the co-op/parent education program is to foster and support parenting and family management skills and to provide an enriching and developmentally appropriate learning experience for your child.

As a working parent in the classroom you will be assisting the teacher with facilitating and supervising learning activities with the children. During this time you will observe and support child development experiences and implement positive child guidance techniques. Working in the classroom serves as the laboratory component of the Parent Education Program.

By attending the various Parent Education opportunities and earning the required number of credits you will be fulfilling the lecture component of the Parent Education Program.

You pay Bates Tuition Fees to enroll (one person per family) in the Bates Parent Education Program, which is affiliated with the Cooperative Preschool Program. As a Bates student you earn college clock hours and have access to the Bates Home & Family Life Resource Center, the STARS and the CDA Training series.

Earning Parent Education Credits

Parent Education credits are required as part of the Co-op Preschool affiliation with Bates Technical College.

Each school year parents must earn eight (8) Parent Education credit (equivalent to one (1) credit per month the family is enrolled in the school). Parent Education credits may be earned beginning the night of Parent Orientation until the last day of school, unless noted otherwise.

Five (5) Parent Education credits must be obtained by March registration to be a member in good standing.


Ways in Which Parents May Earn Credits:


  1. Attend Parent Orientation Night (mandatory); maximum of two (2) credits per family.
  2. Attend Parent Training (mandatory) - Maximum of one (1) credit per family. Risk management requires that each parent working in the classroom must be trained. Adults cannot be scheduled to work in the classroom until they have taken Parent Training. Working in the classroom is a mandatory obligation.
  3. Attend Parent Education meetings. Earn one (1) credit for each Bates Parent Education Seminar or Co-op Parent Education meeting. These are listed on the monthly calendar you receive from your Class Representative and are available from the Parent Education Chair.
  4. Attend a board workshop class sponsored by Bates Technical College. Earn one (1) credit per year.
  5. Attend the majority of your board meetings as a board officer. Earn one (1) credit per year.
  6. Successfully complete your board or committee position for the year. Earn one (1) credit per year.
  7. Attend a board meeting as a visitor.
  8. Attend a Parent Education meeting at another Cooperative Preschool.
  9. Attend a Daytime Parent Education meeting (each meeting counts as one (1) credit per family).
  10. Share an educational experience with the class (i.e. teach a special art project, music program, share your job: nurse, firefighter, police officer, etc.)
  11. Attend a Parent /Teacher conference.
  12. Attend the Bates Resource Center and earn one (1) credit per year.
  13. Attend a Parent Education Event sponsored by a community agency. Earn a maximum of one (1) credit for a series of classes.
  14. Attend Co-op Family Events. Earn one (1) credit per event.
  15. Attend your school's auction.
Earning the required parent education credit is your responsibility and part of fulfilling your co-op registration agreement.

If at any time you have difficulty in earning your parent education credits please contact your Parent Education Chair or your Bates Instructor for help.

Thank you for your participation and support.