Twin Cities Community Preschool: Tuition, Admissions and Reviews

Ch. 1

The Story

We believe in the power of play to foster curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. With active parent participation, we create a supportive community where children thrive socially and emotionally, preparing them for a lifetime of learning and exploration.

In 1945, a group of women from the Marin Child Study Section of AAUW had a bold idea: create a Parent Education co-op alongside a nursery school program. Guided by education experts and families from the community, our program flourished, culminating in the purchase of our permanent home in 1952 in Corte Madera.

We're committed to fostering community to enhance parent education and support child development. We cultivate a strong community involvement through partnerships with local resources like our reading buddy program with Neil Cummins's second graders. Our parent education classes receive support from experts, including parenting coaches and psychologists.

Family Playdates at TCCP are a wonderful chance to mingle with families, meet our director, and get a feeling for our vibrant community and sweet school.

Ch. 2

A School Day

A typical day varies with weather, staffing and the children present. Morning circle at 9:10 brings greetings, songs, stories, birthdays and show-and-tell. From 9:30, children choose activities across the school; at 11:00, small groups enjoy age-appropriate stories, games, crafts or journal writing. At 11:30, children enjoy outside play or enrichment classes while staff and parent-teachers debrief and prepare for the next morning.

8:45 am

Arrival

Parent-teachers arrive and prepare activities with the director; the remaining children begin arriving at 9:00 am.

10:30 am

Snack

Small groups share a family-style snack, practicing asking and passing, pouring water, conversation and cleaning up.

1:30 pm

Pickup

From 1:30 to 3:00 pm, the afternoon closes with free play, cleanup and pickup.

Ch. 3

Programs

At TCCP, we believe that following the child’s interests to develop a curriculum is important. Opportunities to play are available throughout the school: from block building and art to garden exploration and hands-on science experiments.

Morning Program

We recommend that children ages 2.0–2.9 begin with the AM schedule. Families may consult teachers about moving to Hybrid or Full Day.

DaysMonday - Friday

Hours9:00am - 12:00pm

Family participationAll programs: a family member joins one weekly Co-op Day (8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.); parents hold a committee position, attend six required business meetings per school year and help with fundraising, Community Work Days, laundry and other jobs. Every family attends three parent education seminars annually.

Hybrid Program

DaysMonday, Wednesday, Friday; Tuesday, Thursday

HoursMonday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00am - 3:00pm; Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Family participationAll programs: a family member joins one weekly Co-op Day (8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.); parents hold a committee position, attend six required business meetings per school year and help with fundraising, Community Work Days, laundry and other jobs. Every family attends three parent education seminars annually.

Full Day Program

DaysMonday - Friday

Hours9:00am - 3:00pm

Family participationAll programs: a family member joins one weekly Co-op Day (8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.); parents hold a committee position, attend six required business meetings per school year and help with fundraising, Community Work Days, laundry and other jobs. Every family attends three parent education seminars annually.

Ch. 4

The Campus

Our school is set up as a playful, outdoor-oriented environment where children can explore new ideas, interact and problem solve with peers, learn communication skills and develop creativity.

Our Farmers Market is officially open on the front porch, offering rich opportunities for children to explore roles, collaborate, and practice social skills.

Ch. 5

Enrichment

We partner with engaging child educators such as SaveNature.org, The Marin Humane Society, and Marin Wildcare. We also have visits from community members, like firefighters, dentists, and librarians.

We began harvesting from our garden, gathering lettuce, kale, and persimmons, which nurtures curiosity and a connection to the natural world.

Drumming with Wade PetersonYoga with Sarah WalterABADÁ-Capoeira MarinGymnastics BusMiss Caroline’s Music ClassWelcome PicnicFall Harvest PlaydayStone Soup LuncheonHoliday Craft DayS.T.E.A.M NightField TripsMovie Nights

Ch. 6

Values

Our learning community is founded on values like collaboration, reciprocal play and discovery. Our fall classroom update describes children building friendships, caring for one another, exploring seasonal changes and collaborating through shared play.

i.

Collaboration

Our front-porch Farmers Market offers opportunities to explore roles, collaborate and practice social skills.

ii.

Reciprocal play

Children build friendships, learn about boundaries and practice caring for themselves and one another.

iii.

Discovery

Seasonal observations and sensory exploration invite children to notice change, experiment and create.

Ch. 7

Admissions

We are actively enrolling for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. We also welcome interest from families hoping to enroll for future years.

Nov 7

Open house

i.

Tours

We encourage families to attend a Playdate or tour before applying. Family Playdates run on select Saturdays, 10–11 am; contact us to arrange a tour if you cannot attend.

ii.

Age to enroll

We enroll children ages 2.0 years to 6 years.

iii.

Application

Our application should include a family photo and the $60 application fee. After applying, families schedule a shadow day with the Membership Committee.

iv.