AMI/USA Recognized School Status

The primary form of school affiliation is through the AMI School Recognition program.  An AMI Certificate of Recognition offers credibility to a school's status within the educational community as a whole, as well as within the Montessori community, and it confirms a staunch support of Montessori principles faithfully put into practice. To be considered for an AMI Certificate of Recognition a school must have:

	An AMI trained teacher at the appropriate age level for each class.
	A consultation by an AMI trained consultant once every three years.
	A complete set of materials for each class from a manufacturer authorized by AMI.
	A philosophical approach consistent with what is given in AMI training courses:
	Classes made up of children representing a three year age range: Infant/Toddler:  2 months-3 years   • Parent-Infant Class: 2 months-16 months • Toddler Community: 16 months-3 years Primary: 3-6 years Elementary: 6-9 years, and 9-12 years
	Between 28-35 children in each class including a well-balanced division of ages to ensure social development.
	Morning sessions five days per week for the full class, with an afternoon session (extended day) consisting of two to three hours of Montessori activities for the older children in the primary classes.
	An uninterrupted three-hour work cycle each morning.
	No more than one aide in each primary classroom.

AMI/USA Affiliated School Status

Due to a variety of circumstances, some schools are unable to meet the requirement that all teachers be holders of AMI diplomas at the appropriate age level. Consequently, AMI/USA has instituted an alternative plan, the Affiliated School Status, which holds to all requirements of AMI recognition except the one requiring an AMI diploma holder in each classroom.  To qualify for this status at least 80% of the teachers must be AMI credentialed at the appropriate age level.  Such schools will be given a three year grace period to come into compliance with the requirements for full AMI recognition.

AMI/USA Associated Status & Public Schools

To qualify for the Associated Status at least 50% of the teachers/administrators must hold an AMI diploma and at least one AMI teacher must be teaching at the appropriate age level.

This status is a transitional category for those schools in the process of meeting pedagogical standards for full AMI recognition. Based upon the recommendation of the consultant/AMI-USA, Associated schools will be given a grace period of up to three years to come into compliance with the requirements for recognition.

Public schools are affiliated with AMI/USA through the Associated Status.

AMI/USA School Status Summary

In the United States, AMI recognition is issued to schools that have met the standards outlined in this section of our website.  Although no two schools are the same, adhering to the distinct philosophical and operational characteristics outlined above guarantees that a school meets the AMI criteria.  The following table summarizes these requirements:

REQUIREMENT	Recognized	Affiliated	Associated
AMI diploma requirements for teachers	100% of all Classes	80% of all Classes	50% of teachers / administrators - 1 at approp. age level
Consultation visit once every three years	X	X	X
AMI approved materials	X	X	X
Mixed age groups	X	X	X
Recommended class size of 28-35 children *	X	X	X
Uninterrupted 3 hour morning work cycle, 5 days/week	X	X	X
Extended day 5 days/week	X	X	X
One trained teacher/class	X	X	X
Maximum of one non-teaching aide	X	X	X
* For the primary (3-6) and elementary (6-12) classes. Recommended class size for the toddler class is between 10-12 children.			Also includes public schools

AMI/USA School Consultations The AMI School Consultation Program is closely linked to school recognition for all schools. The school observation is of a pedagogical nature and occurs every three years, or as needed. School consultations safeguard and enhance compliance with AMI standards. See also AMI School Recognition, What it is ... What it isn't