Save Parent Education

Without funding, cooperative preschool classes serving thousands of families at North and South Seattle College will close permanently

SEATTLE, WA (April 13, 2026) – Educators and families are calling on the WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to preserve cooperative preschool and parent education programs that have long been a lifeline for working families. These programs provide affordable early childhood education and workforce development for more than 4,000 families in Seattle, with a proven track record for improving working peoples’ lives. But without funding by May 14, these programs will end.

AFT Washington is fighting to preserve these programs, rallying community support. Per the union:

In August 2025, following a multi-year review process, the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges adopted a new allocation model focused on programs that lead to industry-defined workforce credentials. The board had discretion in how to design the model and chose to exclude programs that cannot demonstrate direct ties to specific employment outcomes—a standard that parent education, despite its documented impact on families and communities, does not meet under the current framework. Colleges wishing to preserve state funding for their parent education programs must now obtain credential program approval by June 30,2026, or lose state funding recognition beginning July 1, 2026.

Educators and families rallied Thursday at South Seattle College to express their frustration about the slated program closure, delivering a petition to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges calling for them to reverse course and preserve the programs. If they do not, 13 Community & Technical Colleges stand to lose funding.

Families and educators march to the Board meeting to deliver thier petition. Photo: Enrie Morrison

“For more than 80 years, these programs and their cooperative preschools have been thriving early childhood education models and a defining example of community vocational education in this state,” noted AFT Washington in a news release. “These programs are not peripheral to workforce development—they are foundational to it.”

Parent education programs have been preserved by community efforts over decades. In fact it was a fight to save a cooperative preschool program at Shoreline Community College that launched U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s career.

“To date, more than 2000 people have sent letters to the state board, and 14 legislators sent a letter to the state board requesting preservation of the parent education program,” the AFT Washington release continues. “The closure impacts about 4,500 families at a time when the state has already made deep cuts to childcare options.”

Chris Lampkin, a co-op alum and dad, speaks at Thursday’s rally. Photo: Cortney Marabetta/AFT Washington

While families and educators are urging the state board to change course, they are also leading a funding drive to secure the $2 million North and South Seattle Colleges need to sustain their programs for one year while pursuing program credential approval and a permanent legislative fix.

“Private philanthropy should not be the answer to a public policy failure,” said AFT Washington, announcing the funding drive. “But if the funding is not secured by May 14, these programs close permanently.”

Readers able to donate or help fundraise can learn more about and join the effort to save parent education on the It Takes a Village: Save the Parent Education Program fundraising page.