1150 N. Union Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
812-855-1091

Hoosier Courts Nursery School (HCNS) opened in 1948 as a cooperative program serving children of returning military personnel in the aftermath of World War II. It continues to offer cooperative options today, viewing parents and teachers as partners. HCNS cares for a total of 60 children, ages three to five, in three classrooms.Located on campus, Hoosier Courts is licensed by Indiana Family & Social Services and is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

HCNS is open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. Both half-day and full-day sessions are available. The center is closed on national holidays and during IUB recesses.

The goals of HCNS are based on the great amount of learning that the children derive from their play and from their interactions with their environment. Hoosier Courts provides experiences from which young children learn to direct their own actions, discipline themselves, and accept responsibility for their deeds. Our educational philosophy is referred to as "child-directed learning" where themes developed in the classroom come from the ideas and interests of the children themselves.

Hoosier Courts Cooperative Nursery School is staffed by both professionally trained teachers and parent volunteers. Each classroom is staffed by two co-teachers and a parent volunteer. The program is administered by a director and an administrative assistant.

Hoosier Courts maintains three preschool classrooms with mixed aged grouping of 3 to 5 year old children. Each classroom is staffed by two co-teachers and a parent volunteer with a staff to child ratio of 5:1 being maintained.

Children are served a nutritious snack in the morning and afternoon. Children attending all day are served a hot lunch that is prepared by FoodWorks and is transported to the center daily.

Parent involvement is a vital component of the HCNS program. The program is based on a partnership between parents and staff. Parents can serve as classroom teachers, accompany children on field trips, serve on the Hoosier Courts Advisory Board or join the class for lunch. Parents are welcome to share their interests and skills in the classroom. Parent teacher conferences are offered each semester.

Hoosier Courts has a number of enrollment schedules and parent participation options.  Hoosier Courts offers tuition reduction in exchange for work done by parents for the school. Tuition is based on the participation plan chosen. Please contact the director for more fee information and for enrollment forms.

For more information, contact Carol Spencer at 812-855-1091 or via e-mail at