Greetings,

I would like further clarification for what you deem to be "recognized" for Montessori credentials.  Are you getting your information from MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Educators)? They are the accrediting body for Montessori training centers and recognized by the Department of Education.  

I would like further clarification in regards to mixed aged groups ratios. In a Children's House Montessori classroom we expect to have around 24 children in a balanced mixed age group of 3-6 year-olds with two adults.  The 14:1 ratio is vital for the continuation of Montessori philosophy and the independence of the child.  Montessori teachers from a MACTE accredited program will have vast knowledge on how to lead and manage a classroom with balanced mixed age groups.  Will there be an exception for this standard and if so how can we as schools obtain it? 

Lastly, I would like to impress upon you the importance of the name Montessori on a school.  In Virginia, anyone can open a school can call it "Montessori" without repercussion.  There are written standards from the largest Montessori organizations in the world, (American Montessori Internationale and the American Montessori Society, among others) on what an authentic Montessori school should have to be considered Montessori.  I would invite you to contact MACTE or the Virginia Montessori Association for additional policy information we are proposing.