Is your school more closely aligned with AMI or AMS ?

There are two main interpretations of the Montessori Philosophy. AMI and AMS.  Both interpretations are well thought out and valid, although they differ strongly on certain points. When looking into a school you need to know which interpretation meshes more closely with what you want for your child's education.

AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) - was established by Maria Montessori and her son, Mario in 1929 and has international headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In AMI schools, Montessori philosophy and curriculum are implemented in a way that is consistent with the original approach of Maria Montessori. The Montessori materials are used precisely in the manner used by Dr. Montessori without deviation or extensions; preserving what proponents of this interpretation believe is the purity of the method.

AMS (American Montessori Society) - In the late 1960 Nancy McCormick Rambusch, an AMI Montessori trained teacher founded the American Montessori Society (AMS).  She firmly believed that aspects of the Montessori method had to be modified to accommodate the culture in America. In AMS schools, teachers continue the methods developed by Dr. Montessori while bringing in outside resources, materials, and ideas to extend or supplement the Montessori curriculum. Examples include the use of technology and current events.

If you are someone who wants their child to have computer skills (for example being taught how to make reports with Word and presentations with PowerPoint once they are ready for it) and knowledge about appropriate current events, then you need to look for a school that is more AMS minded. 

On the other hand, if you want to insure that your child's Montessori experience is authentic without any outside influences, or "watering down" you should look for schools that align themselves more with AMI.