Co-ops & Childcare Exchanges

  • A parent co-op is a school where parents work in the classroom on a regular basis, usually one morning a week, and also help to run and administer the school.
  • A parent participation preschool is a program that is usually for younger children (under 3) that children and parents/caregivers attend together.
  • See Also: Co-ops with BPN Reviews ... K-12 Co-ops ... More Advice about Co-ops

Licensing Requirements for Co-ops

IF SOMEONE IS BEING PAID, such as a nanny, a teacher, or one of the parents, then the co-op needs to be licensed by the state's Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) unless every child has a parent/quardian present at all times.  BPN does not accept postings about programs that should be licensed but aren't.  For more information about what types of programs need a license, see About Childcare Licensing in California.  (Note: a license is not required for co-ops where parents exchange care-taking duty and no one is being paid, or where all children have a parent present at all times.)

Licensing rules for co-ops:

  1. Do all children have their parent present?

    • If yes, this is considered a Playgroup. Playgroups do not need to be licensed even if parents pay to attend the playgroup, and regardless of where the playgroup takes place. 
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  2. Where does the co-op take place?

    • In the teacher's home:  This is considered a Family Daycare and the site must be licensed by CCLD. BPN doesn't accept postings about in-home childcare for more than one family that is not licensed.
    • In one of the children's homes:  This is a Nanny Share as long as the nanny/teacher doesn't live in the home. No license is required. However, if the hosting parent is supervising children, whether alone or with the help of a paid teacher, then the home is considered a Family Daycare.
    • At a site that is not someone's home:  unless this is a Playgroup where all parents remain with their children, this is considered a Preschool or Childcare Center and the site must be licensed by CCLD. See Parent Co-operative and Parent Participation Preschools for a list of licensed programs reviewed by BPN subscribers. Also see Forest Schools and Other Unlicensed Programs for Ages 0-5