Getting Started: Eligibility

To get started with AMS school accreditation, the first thing is to review our eligibility requirements. If the school believes PWM meets them, there are a few basic steps to take next, outlined lower down on this page.

Eligibility

The school is eligible to apply for AMS accreditation if it meets all of the following requirements:

• Has been verifed on the AMS Pathway of Continuous School Improvement, a quality assurance initiative available to all member schools

• Has been in operation for a minimum of 3 consecutive years

• Is seeking accreditation for all program levels offered at your school

• Is structured and staffed according to the following multi-age groupings:

  • Infant, within the range birth – 18 months

  • Toddler, within the range 15 – 36 months

  • Early Childhood, a 3-year grouping within the range 2.5 – 6

  • Lower Elementary, ages 6 – 9

  • Upper Elementary, ages 9 – 12 or Elementary I – II, ages 6 – 12

  • Secondary, either 12 – 14, 14 – 16, 16 – 18; or 12 – 15, 15 – 18

• All lead teachers hold Montessori teaching credentials for the ages they are teaching (in accordance with Standard 5.1 of the 2023 AMS Standards for Accreditation)

• All lead teachers who do not hold the requisite Montessori credential are enrolled in an AMS-, AMI-, or MACTE-accredited Montessori teacher education program, and are actively working toward earning a Montessori credential for the level at which they teach. Self-directed adult learners may serve in lead teaching positions in AMS-accredited schools and accreditation candidate schools.

• Has a minimum of a half-day session taught by a qualifying Montessori-credentialed teacher (only applicable at the Infant & Toddler and/or Early Childhood levels)

• Is at least 80% compliant with all AMS Standards for Accreditation, at the time of application.

Next Steps

School Accreditation Packet

The School Accreditation Packet contains the School Accreditation Guidebook, accreditation application, and other documents essential to the process. To purchase the packet, Shop AMS.

Submit Your Accreditation Application

After reviewing the School Accreditation Guidebook, completing the accreditation application (included in the School Accreditation Packet) is the next step. Schools will review the AMS Standards for compliance and to determine their readiness. Once the school is ready, PWM will submit the application with all other required documents to accreditation@amshq.org. AMS accreditation staff will review the application and contact the school once they have determined the school’s eligibility. After the application is approved, the school is officially considered an AMS Accreditation Candidate school.

Review by AMS Staff

AMS accreditation staff will review the application and contact the school to discuss status.