Home › Get Involved › Become a Member ›

School Membership

For Montessori schools, AMS membership is a way to endorse and engage with the world’s foremost proponent of quality Montessori education.

Member schools also benefit from a host of support services, from discounts on professional development events to prominent listings on our Web site.

School membership is available to any Montessori school that agrees to comply with the AMS Code of Ethics.

Join or Renew Now

AMS membership runs from July 1 to June 30.

You may join or renew:

Online (renewal only)
Or by downloading a printable membership form for mailing or faxing.

AMS membership runs from July 1 to June 30. For more information, e-mail Tendo Mutanda or call her at 212-358-1250 x301.

Levels of Membership

AMS offers 3 levels of membership for schools:

Full Level Membership – All classroom lead teachers must hold Montessori credentials in the level(s) they are teaching. The credentials must be issued by a teacher education program affiliated with AMS, the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), the National Center for Montessori Education (NCME), or other programs that are also accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE).

After 1 year as a full member, a school is eligible to apply for AMS accreditation, a widely accepted validation of quality Montessori education. Only full member schools may be accredited by AMS.

Associate Level Membership – The lead teacher in some, but not all, of the school’s classrooms must hold credentials from a teacher education program affiliated with AMS, AMI, NCME, or accredited by MACTE.

Initiate Level Membership – Schools that are just forming or are new to the American Montessori Society may join at this level. Initiate membership is limited to 3 years; during this period the school is expected to work toward full or associate membership.

A school with satellites (in the United States, additional school sites located in the same state but not immediately adjacent to the site serving the largest number of students) must submit separate applications for all of its sites at the same time. Each site will be assigned initiate, associate, or full membership status as appropriate.

AMS also welcomes international member schools. Schools outside the U.S. may join as full, associate, or initiate members.

Benefits

AMS school membership includes the following services and opportunities:

Effective Management Tools

Heads of Schools ListServer – an easy way to reach colleagues with questions, comments, ideas.
AMS Prism – an electronic newsletter filled with news you can use. Members receive an e-mail alert when each new issue comes out.
Salary & Tuition Surveys – valuable data from surveys of teachers and administrators in AMS member schools.

Exposure to a Broad Audience

Inclusion in our online school directory – a valuable resource for parents.
Complimentary employment listings on our Web site and at our conferences.
Representation by AMS at regional meetings and educational conferences throughout the U.S.

Professional & Educational Development

AMS Webinars, conferences, and retreats provide valuable training, plus opportunities to earn continuing education units and professional development hours.
Members may collaborate with teacher education programs through sponsorship and internships.
Member schools are eligible for AMS accreditation, a hallmark of quality Montessori instruction.

Leadership on behalf of the Montessori Community

Representation at the United Nations, Council for American Private Education (CAPE), the Children’s Defense Fund, National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), and other coalitions that advocate for children and education.
Active support of Montessori research, including resources, grants, and opportunities for disseminating research results.

Additional Benefits

Voting rights in AMS elections to help shape the future of Montessori education. (Initiate schools may not vote).
A subscription to our quarterly magazine, Montessori Life.
Discounts on AMS brochures and other publications.
Discount (5%) on purchases from Nienhuis Montessori USA, the world’s leading supplier of Montessori materials and furniture.
Discounted enrollment fee for Dr. Ned Hallowell’s “Mining Magnificent Minds: ADHD for Teachers” professional development Webinar series.
Discounted rates for participation in Simple Simon, an online payment processing program designed specifically for schools.
Optional participation in various insurance plans, including auto, liability, disability, term life, and comprehensive health insurance.