AMS SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the American Montessori Society enables a school to participate in a vital national professional organization that is dedicated to the assurance of quality Montessori programs for children and families, the continuing development of Montessori teachers, and the expansion of Montessori practice into mainstream education. See AMS STANDARDS AND POLICIES. Membership also provides an opportunity for a school and its satellites to benefit from the support of the nation’s largest service organization for Montessori education. Benefits include discount on fees for professional development events; salary and tuition surveys; complementary Employment Opportunities listings on our website and at our annual conferences; discounts on materials bought from Nienhuis Montessori, the world’s leading manufacturer of Montessori materials; and a subscription to Montessori Life, AMS’s award-winning, quarterly magazine. Membership runs from July 1 – June 30.

AMS-member schools must comply with the AMS Code of Ethics.

To become a school member, go to:
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FOR 2008-2010.

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AMS Schools fall into six distinct types:

Accredited

The school has been a Full Member for at least one year, completed the Self-Study, and hosted an accreditation team visit.  It has met the standards set forth in the AMS Accreditation School Handbook.

Full

All classroom lead teachers must hold Montessori credentials in the level(s) they are teaching. The credentials must be issued by an AMS, AMI, NCME, or other Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) accredited program.

Associate

The school must have an AMS-, AMI-, NCME-, or other MACTE-credentialed lead teacher in some, but not all, classrooms.

Satellite

An additional site that is within the same state as the main site but is not immediately adjacent to the main school. Complete an application for the main site (which is defined as the site with the largest number of children) plus a separate application for each satellite. All applications must be submitted at the same time.

Initiate

A membership level for schools that are just forming or for schools that are new to the American Montessori Society. Membership at this level is limited to 3 years during which time the school works toward Full or Associate levels.

International

Any school outside the United States. International schools will be also assigned Accredited, Full, Associate, or Initiate to meet the criteria set above.