FAQs

Children are required to be at least 2 years and 6 months upon entrance into Starr King.

Our school year begins mid-August and runs through early-June.

The Starr King Parent-Child Workshop morning program is open from 8:30am to 12:00pm. 

Yes, we offer an afternoon program, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Enrollment is limited and must be approved by our Director and Assistant Director in order to ensure appropriate teacher to child ratios.

Interested families must tour the school prior to being added to the list.

Tours are conducted during the school year. Please contact our Membership Chair at membership@starrking-pcw.org and a parent volunteer will contact you to answer questions and schedule a tour.

Tuition rates vary based on your child's schedule.  Please see our Enrollment page for details on current rates. 

Yes, Starr King offers financial assistance and/or a work exchange opportunity for reduced rates. Assistance is approved based on need and availability of funds.

Yes, we offer a Summer Camp program, which runs from late-June to early-August. Campers have the option to attend from 1 to 6 weeks depending on availability.

As a parent cooperative program, participation is crucial to the school's operations. Each family's experience at Starr King includes a weekly parent education class, in affiliation with Santa Barbara City College, led by our Director/Parent Education Instructor.  The class is held every Tuesday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Adults also participate at the school one morning a week from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Course content includes positive parenting, the importance of play, healthy patterns of separation, community resources, conflict resolution skills, and effective communication. 

FALL COURSE
Title: ECE NC 10: Child Development at the Parent-Child Workshop
Course Description:
Within the context of a cooperative preschool and parent education program, students will learn about typical social, emotional, physical, language, cognitive development of children aged two to five, healthy patterns of separation, importance of play, and strategies that support a strong foundation for future learning. Students will help create a healthy, safe, inclusive environment for children and observe and interact with children in the cooperative preschool lab.

SPRING COURSE
Title: ECE NC 11: Child, Family, and Community at the Parent-Child Workshop
Course Description:
Within the context of a cooperative preschool and parent education program, students will develop a foundation for positive, reflective parenting. They will investigate the influence of temperament and family patterns and learn effective communication skills and strategies for conflict resolution as they create a framework of child guidance principles and practices that contribute to the optimum development of children. They will discover community resources, learn about kindergarten readiness, and develop strategies to support children’s ongoing education at home and at school. Additional topics will address parenting challenges such as: the influence of media and technology and helping children cope with family illness, and divorce.