San Marcos Parent Child Workshop
A Cooperative Preschool serving Santa Barbara and Goleta Since 1959
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn. ”
~ O. Fred Donaldson ~
Enrolling now for summer camp 2025!
SMPCW is running 6 weeks of summer camp this year. Current SMPCW families with children aged 2.5 - 5 will have exclusive access to sign-ups until March 31st. On April 1st, if spots are still available, Summer Camp will open up to the general public.
Welcome to San Marcos Parent Child Workshop!
San Marcos Parent-Child Cooperative preschool (San Marcos Parent-Child Workshop) is a not-for-profit, cooperative preschool, afternoon child care program and education class for children aged 2 to 5 years old, and their parents. Children learn, grow and make friends through self-directed play and structured group times. Parents learn about their child and themselves, and gain experience in age-appropriate activities, resolving conflicts and handling childhood challenges.
Our Programs
Ages 2 - 5
Morning Program
Monday - Friday
8:45am - 12 pm
(co-op model)
Our morning program follows the co-op model with required caregiver participation.
Children attend between 1-5 mornings a week (Monday-Friday).
Caregiver will attend school with the child one morning per week to volunteer. They will also attend a weekly evening class for their lab day. We are willing work with families to accomodate their needs, caregivers can include grandparents or involved relatives.
SMPCW is a SBCC sponsored school.
Learn more about our cooperative morning program here!
Afternoon Program
Monday - Friday
12pm - 3:30pm
(no parent participation)
Children enroll in the PM Program per weekday, the same way as for the AM Cooperative Program, but it will be billed based on the actual days in session.
The PM Program is based on the same play-based, exploratory learning model that the cooperative program is, but will be staffed by professional educators exclusively (no parental involvement required).
Learn more about our afternoon program here!
Testimonials
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“Delighted with how my kids WANT to go to school and are recieved with so much warmth, as if part of the family, from both the teachers and other parents.”
Chail Norton
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“Children busy and delighted in outdoor exploration... shadow tag, rope climbing, bug identification, hammering nails into wood. Enter inside and hear youth conversations over a nest display, stacking tall towers, and writing practice at tables with paperpads. It’s a special place for learning and living, both for big and small.”
Sarah Avila-Battle
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“Loved, loved, loved SMPCW - was fantastic for our daughters and for us as parents. So much richer an experience than paying and dropping off.”
Paula Cassin
Enroll Now!
Tours are being organized for families interested in enrolling for the 2024/2025 school year.
There is still space to enroll for the 2024/2025 school year!
Visit our Enrollment & Tuition page to learn more and download the enrollment packet.
“A child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.”
~ Pablo Casals