• Play-based preschool for ages 3 years^* through kindergarten
• Morning and/or afternoon programs
• Relaxed, supportive, and culturally diverse environment
• Experienced, caring, professional staff with low turnover rate

Our preschool has operated as a parent cooperative since 1940. While a professional teaching staff runs the program, member families own the school and are responsible for administration and maintenance. This helps keep tuition low and allows parents to be fully involved in their child's education. It also serves to build a strong sense of community among the families in the school.

To be informed of our public events sign up here:

^*Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2012 for the September 2012-June 2013 school year, regardless of the exact month they begin.

Upcoming Tours

We are currently fully enrolled for the Fall 2012 session, but we do enroll throughout the year and you can be placed on the waiting list. We are accepting applications for Fall 2013 (your child must be age 3 by September 1, 2013 to register).

You must take a tour to receive an application. Please call 510-526-1916 or email ecpcenrollment@hotmail.com to be added to our guest list. Your child must be age 3 by September 1, 2012 to be eligible for the 2012-2013 school year.

• Friday, May 11, 2012 at 9:00 am
• Friday, May 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm

We hope you can come by and play!

On-Line Auction NOW OPEN!

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta FUN-raiser

Saturday, May 5, 2012, 6-10 PM

The on-line auction is now open for bidding! Visit www.32auctions.com/ecpc to peruse the catalog and bid on the nearly 200 great items available, like tickets to shows, concerts, museums, zoos, and sporting events, fitness memberships, beauty services, cool shoes and hats for kids, restaurant gift certificates and much more! Hurry, the bidding closes on May 6 at 5:00 PM sharp, so bid early and bid often!

Looking for an evening out after bidding online? Attend the 2012 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Fun-raiser benefiting the El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative. This annual live auction and party is the largest fundraising event of the year. All proceeds benefit the current and future students attending ECPC.

    Saturday, May 5th from 6-10pm
    Albany Community Center (note new location!)
    1249 Marin Avenue, Albany
    Tickets: $25 advance/$30 at door

Join the fiesta for a delicious Mexican dinner, drinks, salsa dancing, raffle and a live auction! Bring your salsa moves and your checkbooks and support ECPC. For tickets click here.

Farewell Ann Clements!

After 32 great years, the incomparable Ann Clements, ECPC's teacher, director, adviser, and friend, is retiring. Since 1980 she has touched the lives of hundreds of children, and has been instrumental in forging the play-based curriculum for which ECPC is famous.

Come celebrate all that she has accomplished at her retirement party. It will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012, from 1-4 PM, at ECPC. All ages are welcome, of course, and we look forward to seeing current families and alums from throughout her long career at ECPC. Share stories of your time at ECPC with Ann and the other teachers and families, show off what you and your children have accomplished since preschool, and say good-bye to an inspirational presence in early childhood education.