When you are looking for a quality Montessori school as either a parent or prospective teacher it is important to keep in mind that schools are operated independently and are either privately owned or run by a non-profit association. The name “Montessori” is not copyrighted and so any school can claim that it is offering an authentic Montessori program.  Therefore anyone can open a school and call it Montessori. The vast majority of schools calling themselves "Montessori" do offer a high quality and authentic Montessori program but a little research on your part can ensure you are making an informed choice for you and your child.

It is often the case that a Montessori school administrator will encourage parents to observe at the school before enrolling their child. This is an excellent way to assess if the school will be an environment that will suit the developmental needs of your child. You will be invited to observe in a classroom setting while the children are in attendance. Typically you will be offered a brief history of the school, program offerings and school policies. It is important to enquire about the training and experience level of the teachers and whether parent education evenings are offered. You might also consider asking if the school has an affiliation with a provincial or national Montessori organization.

For further information on choosing a Montessori school that maintains a program based on internationally recognized standards you may wish to refer to the following articles:

"What is Montessori?"
AMI/USA School Recognition Program

You may also wish to refer to our extensive reading list to learn more about Montessori principles and the preparation of the Montessori classroom environment.

AMI SCHOOL RECOGNITION IN CANADA
The AMI School Recognition program is active in Canada and several schools are working towards the criteria outlined in the brochure. AMI School Recognition is a procedure whereby a formula is used to establish objective evidence that pre-set criteria have been met for a particular academic year. It is renewable annually. A Review Panel made up of five individuals in the AMI community makes the determination from a blank review of all applications. It is important to note that this list does not include all of those excellent schools that are working towards AMI accreditation or that have fully qualified AMI trained teachers.

Contact Nancy Lowden at The Montessori School of Calgary for School Recognition and Consultation information (403-229-1011).