On behalf of Overlee Preschool, a parent-run cooperative since 1945, I am requesting changes to the Proposed Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, specifically in regard to the requirements for staff orientation and ongoing training. 

Since 1945, Overlee Preschool has given Arlington families a place for active participation in education by letting parents work in their children’s classrooms as teachers’ aides. 

The history of Overlee Preschool (established 1945) predates most daycare centers and full time preschool environments. Our parents volunteer on average only 12-15 days a school year (totaling about 50 hours a year) in the classroom. Requiring up to an additional 36 hours of orientation training and continued education for a parent volunteer would create an undue burden on families. This could mean that mom and dad in one family would each need to meet the new proposed requirement. Parents who are volunteering their time are simply not going to be willing or able to complete the same orientation and training requirements as our professional teachers. The effect of these proposed regulations on cooperative education would be devastating. 

We request that the total number of training hours (both orientation and ongoing, collectively) for cooperative preschool parents be limited to the current 4 hours. Please remove the language "who are not considered staff" from section 22VAC40-185-245C describing the required annual training for cooperative preschool parents. Please include an exception for cooperative preschool parents in the new orientation training section 22VAC40-185-240. 

It should be noted parents working in Overlee Preschool classrooms complete all of the background checks outlined in Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies. All parent volunteers work under the direct supervision of well qualified, experienced teachers.

If the orientation and ongoing training sections of the proposed standards are not changed, cooperative preschools like ours may be forced to shut our doors as families will have to decide whether the additional time commitment to state-imposed regulations are in their best interest. 

I have been an early childhood educator for more than 40 years and associated with Overlee Preschool since September 2001. It has been my experience working in both public schools and non-profit childcare centers that cooperative preschools offer a learning opportunity supported by parents that produces the best outcomes for children. It is unfortunate that more schools are not encouraged to bring parents into the classroom rather than promote regulations, which will create barriers between children and their parents.

Elizabeth M. Sonnenberg

Teacher

Overlee Preschool