Accreditation Process

Accreditation by the American Montessori Society is a multi-year process that requires dedicated focus and input from the entire school community. To ensure the needed resources, including time and energy—and fully appreciate the benefits—it is recommend that PWM undergo accreditation during a time of relative school stability.

Components

The AMS school accreditation process has several distinct components:

1. Application

2. Application review and candidacy determination

3. Self-study and report

4. Onsite visit and report

5. Review by the AMS School Accreditation Commission and the AMS Board of Directors

The 2 components of the accreditation process that draw most heavily on the school’s time and effort are the self-study and the onsite visit.

The Self-Study

AMS accreditation begins with an intensive self-study that involves the school’s entire community: staff, faculty, administration, parents, board members (if applicable), and sometimes, even students. During the self-study, the school examines and documents every aspect of its program and processes: governance, curriculum, fiscal and personnel policies, facilities, health and safety practices, teacher preparation, and learner outcomes. The school self-identifies areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. The school collects its findings in a written report and submits it to AMS.

Many candidates for AMS school accreditation find the self-study one of the most valuable parts of the process. Not only is it a period of thoughtful examination, discovery, and, oftentimes, enlightening mindset shifts, it helps strengthen the community as one whose stakeholders are united by shared values, aspirations, and commitments.

The Onsite Visit

At the end of the self-study period, the school hosts a team of peers from other AMS-accredited schools for an onsite visit. A major objective of the visit is to determine whether the school seeking accreditation is in compliance with AMS Standards & Criteria. The visit includes document review, observations, and interviews. The culmination of the onsite visit is a report, prepared by the team, in which they summarize their findings for review by the AMS School Accreditation Commission and AMS Board of Directors.

The onsite visit offers an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from other well-regarded leaders in the community. Typically, it is seen as a joyous affirmation of the many wonderful things the school is doing well and a helpful guide for future improvements.