Dear Supporters of Parent Education and Cooperative Preschools,

We hope this message finds you well.

We are reaching out today with full hearts to ask for your help in supporting Washington State’s Parent Education and Cooperative Preschool programs. These programs are more than classes — they are lifelines. They are where new parents find confidence, where families find community, and where children take their very first steps into learning surrounded by care and connection.  They are where families learn to be better, more effective parents, ensuring their children and families build a solid foundation for success far beyond their preschool years—offering learning opportunities only found in co-op classrooms. Co-ops are unique because they offer wonderful opportunities for parents to volunteer in the classroom, learn how to be classroom assistants, support their children, and build confidence, self-esteem, social-emotional skills, and resilience in both children and parents.  

Last fall, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC) revised the college Allocation Model, changing how funds can be used. Under these changes, programs that do not lead to certificates or degrees are no longer eligible for funding. This puts Parent Education and Cooperative Preschools within Washington’s community and technical colleges at serious risk. While this ask does not include Bellevue College, this request does include those colleges whose programs still have a chance to be saved.  

While these programs may not issue diplomas, their impact is profound and lasting. They help parents grow into steady, capable leaders for their children. They help children develop confidence, curiosity, and resilience. They continue to contribute to the economy and workforce with vital life and business skills. The true measure of their success isn’t found on paper — it’s found in thriving families and stronger communities. 

We are calling on SBCTC and WACTC, in partnership with the Organization of Parent Education Programs (OPEP), to work together to retain these programs and explore alternative models that protect and preserve them.

Please consider joining the campaign to save Parent Education and co-op preschools today. It takes just two clicks to send a letter to key decision-makers.

Write your letter here:  https://actionnetwork.org/letters/preserve-the-parent-education-programs-and-cooperative-preschools-in-washingtons-ctcs/

Then please share this message with classmates, family, and friends.

Your voice matters. When we stand together — respectfully, thoughtfully, and persistently — we can make a difference. Thank you for caring about families, about children, and about the future of our communities.

Sincerely,

Annika ZumBrunnen on behalf of the Parents Advisory Committee