What does it mean to be a parent at a parent-participation cooperative preschool? It means our parents join together to aid in running the school, with the three full-time and two part-time paid teachers. At Explorer, every family helps out in a variety of ways to further the goal of keeping our school a fantastic early learning experience for our children. When you join Explorer, you will find this community to be welcoming and ready to help you immerse yourself in the co-op experience. You will benefit from working alongside accredited teachers with a decade or more of early childhood experience as well as from your fellow parent classmates. Your child will benefit from our program and from seeing you participating in their school Lifelong learning starts now!

Financial Obligations

* Fees are subject to change annually as part of our spring budgeting process. Fees listed are based on the 2024-2025 school year. Fees for 2025-2026 will be available in May pending the school-wide vote on budget for the next school year.

General Information

  • The school year runs for nine months from September through the first week in June.

  • Tuition payments for preschool classes is broken down into several payments throughout the year or may be paid in full.

  • Explorer Preschool families contribute to the cost of a weekly professional cleaning service throughout the year. The fee is $40/enrolled child or a maximum of $80/family.

Other Annual Family Commitments

  • Attendance at parent meetings:

    • Your child’s class orientation and the all-school orientation in September

    • The annual evening business meeting in April

    • Your child’s class culmination celebration in May

    • At least 75% of the remaining class and all-school Parent Education Classes (PECs)

  • Two to four classroom work shifts per month, depending on class frequency

  • Participate in one Saturday maintenance shift (except for Friday 2’s)

  • Participate on a school committee (except for Friday 2’s)

Please Note: Friday 2’s families are not required to participating in the maintenance work shift and school committee jobs in return for paying a higher tuition rate per class.

Together Time classes do not share the same volunteer commitments as the preschool classes. Please refer to the Together Time Enrichment Commitments for more information.

Optional Fundraising

While tuition covers our fixed costs such as teacher salaries, insurance, and rent, our fundraising efforts provide valuable resources needed to fund ongoing school improvements and equipment. We encourage each membership family to participate in our fundraising activities and make an annual suggested minimum donation of $115. Explorer Preschool is an IRS recognized 501 (c)(3) organization (EIN 94-1483367) and money donated for fundraising purposes is tax deductible.