AMI Recognition Program

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AMI/USA administers the AMI Recognition Program for Montessori schools in the USA. Among the many benefits of AMI Recognition, the most significant is the association with AMI, the organization founded by Maria Montessori in 1929. AMI Recognition provides assurance to families, prospective staff and the community at large of adherence to AMI Standards. The consultation visit supports teachers and administrators with program mentoring. Participating programs are listed on the School Locator and receive the Member School Seal for marketing purposes. A recognition certificate is issued by AMI/USA that is suitable for framing and confirms each program’s dedication to AMI standards.

Why should my school become a recognized school? See FAQs below.

In becoming recognized by AMI, your program is participating in the vitality of our organization and helping to continue the legacy of Montessori education that was created over a century ago.

Recognition Status

The Application for AMI Recognition is submitted for one or more program levels each year. Program levels include Assistants to Infancy for ages 0 to 3, Primary for ages 3 to 6, Elementary for ages 6 to 12 and Adolescent for ages 12 to 18. Each program level receives a distinct status, which may or may not be the same as the other levels at the school.

The recognition status is assigned to each program on the basis of the Standards for AMI Montessori Classrooms as documented in the yearly application.

A recognition consultation visit is required at the program level in the first year of recognition, and every three years thereafter, to confirm the status documented in the application. The status of a program may be updated by the Executive Director of AMI/USA at any time on submission of documentation confirming all AMI standards for a new status have been met.

There are three different status levels:

  • To receive the certificate indicating that a program level is AMI Recognized, 100% of teachers are AMI trained at that level and all of the AMI standards must be achieved. This status also applies to an adolescent community with one teacher holding an AMI diploma at that level in a position to guide pedagogy.

  • To qualify for the Affiliated status, between 50% to 100% of teachers are AMI trained at that level. The program meets all other AMI standards.

  • To qualify for the Associated status, 50% of teachers are AMI trained at that level. The Associated status is also a category for developing programs that are in the process of achieving all of the AMI standards.

How to Apply

General Policies

To be eligible for AMI Recognition, a school must strive to meet all of the AMI standards. It is the responsibility of the school to abide by all local, state, and federal ordinances, statutes, rules, and regulations.

AMI/USA reserves the right to refuse or revoke recognition whenever the activities of a school are found to be inconsistent with AMI and AMI/USA aims and objectives.

A yearly application must be submitted because recognition certificates are valid only for the current school year.

Application Process

To apply, complete the Application for AMI Recognition with the request for consultation in the first year and every 3 years thereafter. A consultation visit is also required in the case of a rejoining program.

Following the review of completed forms and upon the written recommendation of the consultant in a consultation year, AMI/USA will finalize the status of each program level and complete the process with the issuance of the program certificates. It is at this time that the school may begin to identify program levels as AMI Recognized, Affiliated, or Associated.

Important Dates for 2025

August

1

The 2025-26 Application for AMI Recognition opens.

September

19

New and rejoining programs, and programs with a third-year consultation, must submit the application, request for consultation, school calendar and fees by this date.

October

31

Applications and required fees are due for programs that do not have a consultation required this year.

An additional $115 fee is incurred for applications submitted after due date.

Applications outside the deadline may be considered at the discretion of the Executive Director.

  • MEMBER SCHOOL BENEFITS:

    • Association with AMI, the organization founded by Maria Montessori in 1929.

    • Assurance to families, prospective staff and community of adherence to AMI Standards.

    • Certificate issued by AMI/USA suitable for framing and confirming each program’s recognition status and dedication to AMI standards.

    • $60.00 discount off one future registration fee for AMI/USA’s Montessori Experience.

    • Access to all AMI/USA individual member vendor benefits.

    • Schedule a virtual 15-min session with AMI/USA executive director.

    • All schools entered into lottery after the October 31 application deadline:

      • Virtual professional learning opportunity with AMI/USA pedagogical representative for your school community.

      • AMI/USA Executive Director to visit your school as a guest at your school event.

    • Adennill - Culture of Preparedness, includes free services and discounted 50% services.

    • Annual listen and learn with AMI Training Centers.

    • School credit on post about a material or Montessori quote:

      • 1 educational post per year on AMI/USA social media.

      • 1 educational post per year on AMI/USA website blog.

    • Listing on the School Locator.

    • Member School Seal for marketing purposes.

    • Metro Consulting Services - a $3,000 discount with contract for leadership search services.

    • Montessori Sports - free intro webinar for all schools, then free 30-minute school consultation.

    • National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector - 10% off Developmental Environmental Rating Scale (DERS) initial training, 10% off Montessori Curriculum to Standards Alignment (MCSA), Lesson Study Training, Integrating Standards Course, and any course directly related to MCSA.

    • Nido Marketing - free CRM account to track prospective families and manage communications, free website audit to help optimize existing sites and suggested templates for forms and emails.

    • Noorana - Classroom Platform FREE for 3 months with the Admin Platform.

    • Sanford Jones Fund for the Arts - opportunities for funding for arts education.

    • Tim Nee Relief Fund - support for schools and teachers who lost wages or have been negatively impacted by a recent natural disaster.

    • Whole School Leadership - 25% discount off first module of Transformational Leadership course and 10% discount off AMI Administrators Certificate Course.

    • Y Montessori - free onboarding ($500 value) then $0.99/child/month for first 3 months on Montopia app and 10% discount on Montessori Data Lens.

    Member benefits represent a diverse array of Montessori-inspired partners and do not represent AMI-approved materials manufacturers. Material manufactured according to AMI blueprints is identified by an AMI logo.

  • Application Fee

    • $100 (non-refundable)

    Recognition Fee

    • $25/child for the first 190 children, $19/child over 190 children

    • Public Schools: $425/40 children | Public school districts may attach a purchase order to the application or submit directly by the due date with payment terms of Net 30.

    • Public Charter Schools | Tuition based pays regular recognition fees, public charter pays public fees.

    AMI/USA Memberships

    • $125 per AMI/USA Membership (non-refundable, non-transferable) | The administrator and each classroom teacher are required to have current AMI/USA memberships through June 30, 2026. For Affiliated and Associated programs, AMI/USA membership is required for all teachers even if they are not AMI trained.

    Airfare/Transportation Flat Fee

    • $200 per program level seeking recognition | This fee supplements transportation costs and offsets geographical disparities.

    Late Applications

    • $115 additional fee for requests or applications submitted after deadlines.

    Consultation Fees

    All fees are prepaid. Contact AMI/USA if you have any questions regarding fees or payment options.

  • A school visit by a trained AMI consultant is required every 3 years as a part of the AMI Recognition process. The purpose of the consultation is to assess the school’s compliance with AMI pedagogical standards and to assist the school and its teachers in providing the best Montessori education possible. The consultant observes the classes and other relevant aspects of the school, and meets with each teacher and the administrator. A level report and individual teacher reports are written and include recommendations as well as requirements for the program level to come into full compliance with AMI standards. Occasionally, revisits may be required for the following year to assure implementation of the requirements noted.

  • AMI Recognition concerns pedagogical matters within classrooms and does not assess aspects of school operations such as state licensing requirements, financial or administrative matters.

  • AMI and AMI/USA are organizations whose regulation of conduct is limited to pedagogical matters. All those connected with AMI and AMI/USA are expected to conduct themselves lawfully and in a manner that both exemplifies and supports the propagation and furtherance of the ideas and principles of Dr. Maria Montessori for the full development of the human being.

  • AMI was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1929 to maintain the integrity of her life’s work, and continues with the purpose of preserving that legacy. AMI’s activities include empowering teachers and communities with Montessori education through the AMI Scientific Pedagogy Group, promoting and continuing the study, research, and reflection of Maria Montessori’s work, through the Global Research Committee, collecting, studying, and disseminating current and relevant scientific literature on child development and education research, and promoting the continuous exchange of ideas, perspectives, and practices through such events as the AMI International Montessori Congress.

  • As the primary AMI affiliate in the USA, AMI/USA is a national non-profit organization that upholds Dr. Maria Montessori’s original vision and is dedicated to bringing the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori to the education of children through its support and advancement of the AMI Montessori community in the United States.

  • Schools are encouraged to link to the AMI and AMI/USA websites from their websites.

  • No. Please note that the AMI and AMI/USA logos are copyrighted and their use is reserved for the head office, AMI affiliate organizations, and AMI training centers. Schools are asked not to use the AMI nor the AMI/USA logos. Once a school gains Recognized, Affiliated or Associated status, the AMI/USA Member School Seal will be provided for the school’s website and communication materials. This seal provides visual acknowledgement of a school’s AMI/USA membership.

  • Once a school gains Recognized, Affiliated or Associated status, the AMI/USA Member School Seal will be provided for the school’s website and communication materials. This seal provides visual acknowledgement of a school’s AMI/USA membership. Schools will also be added to the AMI/USA website’s school locator.

Frequently Asked Questions:

AMI/USA Consultation Committee