As state funding changes threaten co-op preschools, Edmonds College remains hopeful

Published 1:48 pm Tuesday, June 9, 2026

LYNNWOOD — A statewide change to community and technical college funding could jeopardize cooperative preschool programs offered through Edmonds College.

While the funding change is causing some other colleges to end their parent education programs, Edmonds College officials remain optimistic.

Under the new model, which goes into effect July 1, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will allocate funding based on a school’s total enrollment rather than enrollment targets. For a program to count toward total college enrollment, a college must prove that it leads to an approved, in-demand workforce credential, said Rachelle Alongi, spokesperson for the state board, in an email Tuesday.

Seven co-op preschools across Snohomish County are affiliated with Edmonds College. At each school, parents receive parent education credit for working at the school with their child one day per week, which teaches them about parenting and child development. Members are also required to attend a monthly meeting, where they discuss co-op business and participate in parent education discussions.

Nearly 600 parents were enrolled in the college’s co-op preschools in the 2025-26 school year, Edmonds College President Amit Singh said in a June 3 interview.

As of Tuesday, the state had not approved any requests to include co-op preschools in enrollment counts, Alongi said.

But Edmonds College is hopeful, Singh said.

Singh said he believes the parent education program already contributes to the workforce by teaching parents skills such as managing a nonprofit board. But starting next school year, the credits parents receive from the program will also go toward a four-year degree in child, youth and family studies.

“We already had some skills that we thought had some labor market outcomes, but now we’ve also made some changes to make it stronger,” Singh said.

Some colleges have already decided to end their parent education programs. Bellevue College will discontinue its parent education program next year because of the funding changes, spokesperson Raechel Dawson said in an email Tuesday. The Seattle Times reported on May 28 that Peninsula College will also discontinue its program.

The impacts of the funding change on each community and technical college in the state will vary, Alongi said, as each is responsible for its own budget.

“CTCs are facing significant budget uncertainty, and we will continue to work closely with them to navigate the best path forward for our system,” she said.

Tuition at co-op preschools is significantly less than most child care, with tuition ranging from $110 to $230 per month in Snohomish County. In addition, parents are enrolled in parent education at no extra cost.

“Many of them are immigrants and new to this country,” Singh said. “To have any kind of skill is important for their future, and we’re trying to provide a reasonably priced skill to them. … Many of them won’t necessarily be able to afford a two, three or four year program, but it’s something we can give them while they’re there helping their own children.”

Rae Carey, a teacher at Edmonds Cooperative Preschool, has been immersed in the co-op preschool system her whole life. As a child, she attended a co-op preschool on Bainbridge Island, where her mother worked as a teacher. When she was looking for preschool options for her son, she wanted to find a similar program in her own community.

When Carey started attending Edmonds Co-op in 2024, the school was struggling financially after moving into a new building, she said. The chairperson of the board had stepped down, so she assumed the role. At the time, the school was only offering one class instead of the usual three because it was short a teacher. She decided to apply for the job, and she’s been teaching since.

Next year, the school will offer three classes again. Carey said she’s hopeful about the school’s future based on conversations with the dean who oversees parent education.

“The school seems to be in a much more secure position,” Carey said.

On a typical workday, a parent will help run classroom activities. In addition to watching their own child, they make sure other children are safe and help to deescalate conflict if needed, Carey said.

“It can be kind of daunting for parents to step in with other people’s kids, but it’s also really empowering to realize you’ve learned tools that are helpful,” she said.

Carey said she’s appreciated the monthly parenting discussions during her time at the school.

“It’s really overwhelming as a parent to go online because you can find 40 different opinions about how to handle something that’s going on with your kid, and so to be able to talk with somebody who has read all of those opinions and then has also read the research that supports best practice is a relief,” she said.

The college expects to receive a decision from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges on co-op preschool funding within the next two weeks, Singh said. If the state board rejects the funding application, Singh said the officials will take the summer to figure out a way to fund its co-op preschools.

“If we can save the program, we’d like to save it,” Singh said. “We’ll try to continue to offer the program, that’s our sincere effort.”

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated that Edmonds College is the only co-op preschool provider in Snohomish County. While Edmonds College is the only college in the county that operates co-op preschool programs, several co-op preschools operate independently. An earlier version incorrectly spelled the name of Bellevue College spokesperson Raechel Dawson.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.