Common Questions

Admissions and Enrollment

What are the age requirements for enrollment?

Front Yard (younger class): Children must be at least 2 years 9 months old by September 1 of the upcoming school year.

Back Yard (older class): Children must be 4 years old by September 1 of the upcoming school year.

Children who are slightly younger than the age requirement may still apply and may be considered if space allows.

Where’s the application form?

The application form is not posted on our website. The admissions process begins with a required tour of CCC. After attending a tour, you’ll receive a follow-up email that includes the application and instructions on how to apply.

How much is the application fee?

We do not charge any fees to submit an application.

My child is not yet potty-trained. Do you enroll children who are still in diapers?

Yes. CCC enrolls children who are in diapers. We follow a pretty rigid protocol around diaper changing, so only teachers are allowed to change diapers. Participating parents are not expected (and not allowed) to change diapers, unless it’s their own child.

Is CCC right for every family?

No. While we deeply believe in our model and strive to create a positive experience for as many as possible, we recognize that no single school environment fits every family.

Children who may need different support: Some children thrive in environments with more or less structure, smaller group sizes, additional indoor time, specific therapeutic activities, or professional staff that we cannot provide at CCC.

Family considerations: The cooperative model requires significant time commitment and active parental involvement, which may not be feasible or desirable for all families. Additionally, families need to feel aligned with our child-led, play-based learning approach and our commitment to anti-bias education, diversity, and inclusion to actively foster the environment we strive to create.

What are your immunization requirements?

Children must have a current physician-signed health evaluation (within the past year) and be up-to-date on state-required immunizations (DTaP, polio, measles, etc.). See the California Department of Public Health’s website for the specific immunizations schedule. TB screening is only required if risk factors are present.

California law also requires that all participating parents have up-to-date immunizations for Measles and Pertussis. Adults are also required to complete a TB risk assessment, and a TB test if indicated by the assessment. COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for parents and children.

We accept valid medical exemptions under CDPH’s guidelines, but we do not accept exemptions based on personal preference.

My child is nervous about starting preschool. How does the school approach separation?

Separation can be tough, and it’s completely normal for children to cry or show big emotions. We’ll guide you through the process while respecting your child’s unique needs. There are no silver bullets Magic Beans, but here are some tools and approaches we employ:

Make a separation plan: We ask parents to write a brief note about how they think their child might react during the first week, outline the goodbye routine, and indicate any support they might want from CCC. Whatever plan you choose, consistency helps children feel secure.
Family boards: Each child has a family board in the classroom (you’ll make this in the first weeks at the school). They are decorated with family photos, pictures of their favorite places, or anything else that brings them comfort. Looking at familiar faces helps children feel connected and comforted after saying goodbye.
Staggered enrollment: During the first week of school, children attend their first day with a caregiver present alongside just a handful of other families. This slower start helps new families ease into the routine in a calmer, less crowded environment. Teachers also get the chance to spend more one-on-one time with each child.
Always say goodbye: We instruct parents to directly say goodbye when leaving rather than slip away. Children feel more secure when they know what to expect and aren’t surprised to find you gone.

Most children adjust more quickly than you’d expect, and we’ll partner with you each step of the way.

Tuition

What is the tuition?

CCC’s tuition model aims to make high-quality, play-based preschool accessible to families across income levels and racial backgrounds. The tuition structure is divided into five buckets. Families choose a bucket before the school year based on their financial situation.

For 2025–26, base tuition ranges from as high as $1,091 per month (Bucket E) to as low as $819 per month (Bucket B). Choosing Bucket B with the $285 double parent participation discount brings tuition down to $534 per month, the lowest listed rate. Bucket A (write in what you can afford) may be even lower than that price (subject to available funds and board approval). More information: cccpreschool.org/tuition

Are there scholarships?

We provide discounted tuition through the mutual aid assistance fund (but we don’t use scholarships). This fund is supported primarily by families who pay tuition in Buckets D and E. Their contributions help cover tuition costs for families who need additional financial support to attend CCC. Buckets A and B represent the mutual aid-supported tuition options.

So why don’t we use scholarships? We've moved away from a traditional scholarship model in 2023 because it operated like charity, which can reinforce existing power dynamics. Under our previous system, scholarship recipients faced additional application requirements and had less privacy than other families.

Our mutual aid model works differently: all families pay according to their financial means. This approach allows each family to reflect on their circumstances and take meaningful action toward our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Do bucket choices affect admissions?

Your bucket choice doesn’t influence admissions decisions. Tuition selection comes after an offer is made.

Where can I see the additional fees?

See the Schedule of Fees for the most up-to-date info.

The Child’s Experience

What does a typical day look like for my child?

The morning program (9 am-12:30 pm) has circle time at 9:30, and wraps up with lunch at 12:00-12:30. Between those times, CCC doesn’t dictate a strict schedule. Children are free to explore activities they enjoy (art, imaginative dress-up, music-making, dancing, or quiet reading). This child-led, play-based approach nurtures confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of competence in a warm, secure environment.

Afternoon Care runs from 12:30pm-5:30 pm (with an earlier pick-up option at 3:30). A beloved tradition is daily tea time, where children gather together to slow down and connect before moving into the later part of the day. Outside of tea time, children spend their time in a relaxed, mixed-age environment with both structured and unstructured play. Activities might include art projects, gardening, outdoor play, and quiet indoor choices.

How do children learn at CCC?

Children learn through play. We do not have an explicit academic or lesson plan–based curriculum. Children do not sit at desks, and we do not teach the alphabet, numbers, colors, or shapes through drills, worksheets, or memorization. While some preschools focus on academic advancement, CCC emphasizes learning through play as the foundation for social, emotional, and creative development.

Whether children are building a tower together, negotiating roles in pretend play, or experimenting with paint and water, they are practicing essential life skills: problem-solving, communication, creativity, and collaboration.

Teachers also introduce thematic activities (for example, exploring the butterfly lifecycle in spring through books, stories, and play materials). These activities nurture curiosity and discovery while keeping the emphasis on playful, age-appropriate experiences.

Families seeking a more competitive or academically focused preschool program will find other schools better aligned with that approach.

Will my child get dirty playing in water and sand?

Yes, probably. Sometimes, maybe even every day. We also allow children to play outside in the rain so long as the weather is safe. We recommend packing extra outfits so your child can stay comfortable after outdoor play and we’ll help your child change outfits to feel more comfortable.

Do you provide meals and snacks?

Snack is provided daily (purchased and prepared by a participating parent/caregiver), but families are responsible for sending a packed lunch and water bottle from home each day. All allergies and dietary restrictions are carefully accommodated for snack.

How are children supported emotionally?

CCC emphasizes relationships. Teachers and caregivers help children identify and express their feelings, practice empathy, and work through conflicts. When conflicts arise, children participate in a “check-in” - an adult-facilitated conversation where they discuss what happened, how it affected them, and explore ways to make things better. This approach turns conflicts into opportunities for learning and healing, ensuring each child feels known, safe, and cared for at CCC. As a participating parent, you will also learn to facilitate this practice and help support it in the classroom.

Aren’t preschoolers too young to learn about bias?

No. Research shows that children begin absorbing social messages about identity, value, and difference from infancy. By preschool, they’re already forming ideas about themselves and others based on what they see in their families, media, and the world around them. If we wait too long to address these topics, children may have already internalized harmful stereotypes that become much harder to unlearn.

At CCC, we believe the preschool years are the ideal time to begin age-appropriate anti-bias education. Preschoolers are naturally curious about differences and similarities, and we build on that curiosity in positive, constructive ways. Rather than attempting to shield children, which isn’t really possible, we focus on giving children language, confidence, and tools to see diversity as a strength and to treat others with respect.

How does CCC celebrate cultural and religious holidays?

At CCC, we welcome families to bring their whole selves to school. Goal one (Identity) and goal two (Diversity) of our anti-bias curriculum emphasizes appreciating the uniqueness of each family to disrupt the formation of negative stereotypes.

Families are encouraged to share their traditions, religious practices, and cultural celebrations. This helps all children gain a deeper understanding of each other’s personal, family, and social identities. When children see their traditions honored and supported, they build self-awareness, confidence, pride, and positive social identities.

Teachers highlight these moments through activities or introducing books that reflect upcoming cultural and religious holidays. Families are also invited to participate in Family Sharing, a show-and-tell style activity where they bring their own traditions into the classroom. Recent Family Sharing examples include making tamales, celebrating Lunar New Year with a dragon dance, and making ofrendas for Día de los Muertos.

While we spotlight the diverse practices of all families in our community, CCC is not a religious organization and does not promote any religious practice. Instead, we celebrate the richness that comes from sharing and learning about our families’ traditions without preference for any one way.

How does CCC handle behavior and discipline?

At CCC, we don’t use punishment, timeouts, or reward charts. Instead, we approach behavior as part of learning. Teachers and caregivers support children in understanding their feelings, practicing empathy, and working through conflicts. Natural consequences and gentle guidance help children learn to make thoughtful choices. The goal is to nurture self-regulation, problem-solving, and respect for others in a caring, supportive environment.

We also don’t make children say “I’m sorry.” A forced apology doesn’t teach compassion or help resolve the situation. It often just ends the moment without addressing the feelings behind it. Children who are made to say sorry quickly learn to repeat the phrase to bring any accountability to an end. Instead, teachers guide children to talk about what happened, recognize how their actions affected others, and explore ways to make things better (e.g. offering comfort, getting a tissue, or simply listening). Over time, children learn genuine empathy, responsibility, and care for one another.

Being part of a co-op community

What is the expected time commitment of caregivers at CCC?

CCC is a cooperative preschool, which means families play an active role in making the school run. This involvement is central to our model and part of what makes our community so connected. The time you give is what makes the school thrive as a connected, cooperative community.

Here’s what the commitment looks like:

Weekly:

Parent Participation Day - Every enrolled child needs one caregiver to participate in the classroom one morning per week. You typically start at 8:45 am, helping set up an activity, and wrap up by 12:45 pm with cleanup and a caregiver meeting led by a teacher or director. (4 hours)

Monthly:

Meetings - Attend one Yard Meeting or All-School Meeting (about 2 hours)
Family Job - Complete administrative family job tasks. (about 4–10 hours depending on role).

Annual:

Orientation - Attend orientation meetings before the school year begins (one weekday evening before school starts + one weekend morning).
Volunteer - Complete general volunteer hours in addition to your family job (12 hours)

Families should feel comfortable dedicating about 25 hours per month to CCC responsibilities. It’s a significant investment, but it’s also what makes the program unique. This shared investment builds community, keeps tuition lower, and directly enriches the experience for children. We encourage prospective families to reflect on whether this level of involvement feels manageable with their other commitments, so they can decide if CCC is the right fit for them.

What if I can’t commit to participating weekly?

CCC strongly encourages weekly participation since it’s at the heart of the co-op model. There really is no substitute for the experience. Being in the classroom helps parents connect with their child’s learning, build relationships with teachers, and contribute to the community in a hands-on way.

That said, we understand not every family can commit to a weekly schedule. A limited number of reduced-participation options are available when space allows. Since participation is core to the CCC way, opting for a reduction requires board approval.

Will I have to participate 2 days a week with two children at CCC?

Yes. Families are required to complete one participation day per child enrolled. However, not all responsibilities increase with more children enrolled:

Each family is assigned only one family job, regardless of how many children they have at CCC. We do our best to match families with a role that works well for them, taking the number of children into account.
Families with multiple children have the same fundraising requirement and 12 general volunteer hours as all other families.

Families with more than one child enrolled at the same time also receive a 10% sibling discount.

How does CCC support solo and single-parents?

The co-op model requires significant time and energy commitments from all caregivers, and we recognize that single-caregiver families may navigate responsibilities with less support compared to multi-caregiver households. To foster greater equity and accessibility, CCC has formalized the following supportive measures:

Access to a less time-intensive family job
Single-caregiver families may select from two volunteer hour modification options:
- reduce their volunteer hours from 12 to 6, or
- invite an additional family member or chosen support person to collaborate in fulfilling the standard 12-hour requirement.
Single-caregiver families receive priority when securing childcare for all mandatory CCC meetings.

Single and solo parents may accept all, some or none of these offers, based on what works best for their family.

Can grandparents cover the parent participation days for me?

Yes. Families may designate a non-parent caregiver—such as a grandparent or relative—to cover participation days. However, they must complete CCC’s orientation training and the necessary immunizations before joining in the classroom. Paid caregivers such as nannies or other individuals hired to provide childcare services cannot cover participation days.

Can I bring my infant or younger child with me on my participation day?

No. Unfortunately, state licensing regulations do not allow siblings or children who are not enrolled in the program to be present in the classroom during participation days.

We know this can be challenging for families with babies or toddlers at home. Many families coordinate with a partner, relative, or friend to cover care for younger children on their participation days. Some also choose a decreased participation option (participate every other week) with the board’s approval.