Staunton Montessori School is recognized by AMI (Association Montessori Internationale). As the only AMI recognized school in the Shenandoah Valley, we adhere to the highest standards of Montessori education in the world.

The AMI affiliation gives authenticity to our school’s status within the educational community as a whole – as well as the global Montessori community – and it confirms a staunch support of the Montessori principles that are put into practice at the school.

There are several organizations offering Montessori accreditation, and the term “Montessori” is in the public domain. So how can you, as a parent, decide which Montessori school to choose?

In 1929 Maria Montessori established the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to ensure that her pedagogy and research would be maintained and propagated as she developed it. AMI is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and is the oldest recognized authority on Montessori education worldwide.

Our school must meet the following requirements to be associated with AMI:

• There is one AMI teacher for the appropriate age level in every class.
• A consultation by an AMI consultant is conducted every three years.
• Each classroom must have a complete set of materials from an AMI authorized manufacturer.
• Assistants are non-teaching aides.
• Primary and Elementary classes are made up of children representing a three-year age range, balanced within each age group, and have an appropriate number of children to ensure social development.
• Classes are held five days a week, with a daily three-hour uninterrupted work cycle in the morning and a two- to three-hour uninterrupted work cycle in the afternoon.
• An extended work day (afternoon) is offered to primary children.

Because our school is recognized by AMI, we hire only AMI diploma holders as teachers for our classrooms. AMI teachers must complete their training at a recognized AMI training center. A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite to the year-long training program that involves both theory and practice.

Although no two AMI Montessori schools are exactly the same, they must adhere to the philosophical and operational characteristics outlined above. Of course, recognition alone is not a sufficient guarantee of a school’s quality. There is no substitute for visiting the schools you are considering, observing the classrooms, and meeting the people who will be educating your children.

We suggest that you do your research, learn about the Montessori Method and why AMI recognition matters in terms of quality and outcomes, and ask questions about teacher training and school community. Not all Montessori schools are the same. Spend some time researching, asking questions, and learn why.

AMI standards information can be found at: http://amiusa.org/school-standards/