Is your school accredited?

The sad truth is that anyone can open up a school and call it Montessori. For a person not completely familiar with Montessori education, it can be difficult to tell how well a school implements the philosophy. One way to know is to ask if the school is accredited. Being accredited means that a trained and certified Montessori evaluator has observed the school to ensure that they are operating within the highest of Montessori philosophical and educational standards.

Not being accredited DOES NOT mean the a school is not Montessori or that the education at that school is poor, but it does make it hard for the person new to Montessori to judge how effective and valid the program at that particular school is.

It is important to state that there is a big difference between accreditation and affiliation.

Accreditation - The school has been evaluated by a recognized Montessori accrediting organization as a school that operates within the highest standards of Montessori philosophy and education.

Affiliation - The school has joined an organization by paying a fee.