AMS SCHOOL ACCREDITATION INFORMATION

LIST OF ACCREDITED SCHOOLS

As of July 1, 2008, the American Montessori Society is implementing a newly revised set of School Accreditation Standards and Criteria.

The Standards have been under revision by the School Accreditation Task Force for the past two years and involved input from many constituents from both schools and teacher education programs.

School accreditation application materials and handbooks are being revised to align with these new standards. New materials will be available for schools interested in school accreditation in late July. To preorder the materials please download and complete the Preorder Form and send with payment of $35 to the American Montessori Society, 281 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010, Attn: Office of School Accreditation.

Schools that have received candidacy letters by June 30, 2008 may continue to use the original accreditation standards and materials.

We thank the following Task Force members whose dedication brought this work to completion:

Marie Conti, Cochair
Muriel Owens, Cochair
Mimi Basso
Pat Feltin
Lynn Fisher
LoAnn Jundt
Amelia McTamaney
Joanne Oh, Ex officio
Marsha Stencel

AMS SCHOOL ACCREDITATION

AMS Accreditation is a voluntary process undertaken by schools that are committed to continuous school improvement. Through a documentation of compliance with AMS Standards and a comprehensive self-study process, a school defines itself in terms of strengths and areas that need improvement and validates that the school is what it says it is and does what it says it does.

However, the real value resides in the good things that happen to the school as it achieves and maintains accreditation. The self-study process is one of discovery and empowerment. The school’s self-study examines itself in light of its own philosophy, involving all its constituents. It results in strong self-evaluation and a strategic plan that fosters continuing school improvement. The school complies with Standards for American Montessori Schools and six essential qualities established by research and consensus as the essence of the educational nature of Montessori education. The essential qualities are:

  • The Montessori Learning Environment
  • Montessori’s Learning Activities
  • Montessori Learning Relationships
  • Montessori Spirituality
  • What the Montessori Teacher Is
  • What the Montessori Teacher Does

For more information: Marie Conti