My three children attended co-op preschool, and the experience was invaluable to our family.  My kids thrived, and my wife and I are better parents for it.  We are also better and more active volunteers in the public schools and various community activities due to our co-op experiences and training.

Please make it so that others can benefit as well, by preserving these exceptions:

* co-op parent volunteers should be counted in staff-child ratios;

* co-op parent volunteers should NOT be required to have 36 hours of training (keep the current requirement instead);

* co-op parent volunteers should NOT need to be in sight and sound of the teachers at all times.  The volunteers undergo background checks like the staff.  

Let's preserve our co-op preschools to give others the chance to benefit from this geat educational model!