As used in this act:

    (a) "Parent cooperative preschool" means a nonprofit, nondiscriminatory institution, maintained as a community service and administered by parents of children currently enrolled in the preschool, which institution provides an educational and developmental program for children younger than compulsory school age and which provides an educational program for parents, including active parental participation with children in preschool activities.

    (b) "Child development course work" means child development course work, early childhood course work, child psychology course work, or any combination thereof.

     The department of education shall license a parent cooperative preschool as an educational institution, if all of the following are satisfied:

    (a) The parent cooperative preschool is duly licensed by the department of social services as a child care organization under Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1973, as amended, being sections 722.111 to 722.128 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

    (b) The parent cooperative preschool employs not less than 1 qualified parent cooperative preschool teacher, as provided in this act, to direct educational and development programs for the children.

     The department of education shall certify an applicant as a qualified parent cooperative preschool teacher for purposes of this act if the applicant meets any of the following requirements:

    (a) The applicant has earned 120 semester credit hours in an accredited institution of higher education, including not less than 15 semester hours of child development course work.

    (b) The applicant has earned 60 semester credit hours in an accredited institution of higher education before July 1, 1979, including not less than 15 semester hours of child development course work.

    (c) The applicant has taught in a parent cooperative preschool for not less than 5 years before the effective date of this act.

     The department of education shall credit the successful teaching experience of a qualified parent cooperative preschool teacher holding from the department of education a current elementary certificate or a secondary certificate with a home economics endorsement, vocational endorsement in child care and guidance, or an early childhood endorsement for purposes of qualifying for continuing certification.