Rubric for Ongoing Preparation of Guides (Google Drive Link)
This rubric is designed to support the ongoing preparation of guides at Montessori For All. It is a tool that aids the ongoing process of observation, reflection, and action and that provides a common framework for dialogue. It is organized around seven broad domains covering key aspects of practice of the public Montessori guide who seeks equitable outcomes for all children, including (1) The Prepared Environment; (2) Assessment, Record Keeping and Planning; (3) Lesson Presentation; (4) Protection; (5) Connection; (6) Justness; and (7) Professionalism.
The rubric works in concert with the Child-Centered Outcomes in a Self-Directed Learning Environment rubric, which is a lens through which to seek evidence of the results of adult practice for children.
The AMS 2023 standards serve as a comprehensive quality-assurance framework that validates a school’s commitment to Montessori excellence through nine core institutional standards and five essential classroom components. They emphasise authentic Montessori philosophy, strong leadership, trained teachers, child-centered learning, safe and well-prepared environments, financial stability, and effective communication within the school community, and also focus on continuous improvement, diversity and inclusion, learner outcomes, and maintaining environments that support independence, engagement, and joyful learning.
AMS also offer this extremely detailed (88 pages) correlation, produced to align the AMS Montessori Curriculum with the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards (Birth to Five) for official School Readiness Curriculum Approval. It serves as a regulatory bridge, demonstrating how specific Montessori activities and philosophical goals meet the state-mandated benchmarks for early childhood development in Florida, ensuring that schools using the AMS curriculum remain eligible for public funding and state-level recognition while maintaining the integrity of the Montessori approach.
AMS suggest the following as the essential ‘Characteristics of a Montessori Early Childhood Program’ PDF
Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambush, founder of the American Montessori Society and co-founder of the Montessori Foundation, identified the characteristics of an authentic Montessori school.
An excerpt from her 2016 book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius (p. 28), in which she offers a conceptual framework that bridges Maria Montessori’s original pedagogy with contemporary psychological research, highlighting the essential intersection of physical movement, executive function, and environmental order as the drivers of optimal child development. By emphasising intrinsic motivation and authoritative adult interaction, Lillard presents Montessori education as a scientifically-validated alternative to conventional, extrinsic-reward-based schooling.
Authentic Montessori and Contemporary Considerations PDF
Angeline Lillard co-authored the Authentic Montessori section of this text, along with Virginia A. McHugh. They discuss the various elements required, categorising them under the headings of ‘The Montessori Trinity, Montessori Children: The Outcomes, The Prepared Environment, The Teacher, and The Child.
Contemporary Considerations includes an overview of Standardized Assessments.
In ‘Essential Elements for Montessori in the Public Sector’, NCMPS outline the essential elements for implementing high-fidelity Montessori education while meeting public school accountability standards, covering both structural requirements (e.g., credentialed teachers, mixed-age groupings, three-hour work cycles, full Montessori materials) and sustainability factors (leadership, family engagement, assessment). Overview – PDF
Essential Elements for Public Montessori PDF
A two-page checklist of implementation guidelines, measuring fidelity and sustainability elements across the domains of adults, environment, leadership, family engagement and assessment.
Essential Elements Implementation Rubric PDF
A detailed articulation of the Elements, which can be used independently or as part of a comprehensive Essential Elements Review. Provides a rubric (Exemplary to Unsatisfactory) for evaluating Montessori practice in public-sector settings, including teacher qualifications, classroom environment, family partnerships, and organizational development.
Montessori at a Glance PDF
‘Montessori education constitutes a major shift in how we think about what learning looks like, and how learning environments should be organized to support optimal development. This shift, which matches what neuroscience tells us about how the human mind works, comes down to two major concepts: student-centered activity and structure to support that activity.’
What is Montessori? FAQ PDF
The following pair of documents are produced by MANZ, whose “mission is to support and influence our community to deliver excellent Montessori programmes that enable the holistic development of infants, children/tamariki and adolescents/rangatahi.”
Montessori Journey to Excellence – Essential Elements PDF
This New Zealand–specific framework provides aspirational quality indicators for Montessori education from birth to 18 years, aligned with national curricula. Organized into four domains -Leadership, Learning Environment, Prepared Kaiako (teachers), and Community- it emphasizes continuous improvement through self-review and Teacher as Inquiry. It serves as a reflective tool for Montessori early learning services and schools to guide practice, professional learning, and peaceful, inclusive communities.
Montessori Parent Guide 3 – 6 Years PDF
Parents frequently ask: How do I know if it is really Montessori? What are the essential elements of Montessori education? What should you be looking for when you are considering a Montessori education for your young child?
Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand has produced this Parent Guide to help you better understand Montessori education and to find answers to your questions about Montessori.
Montessori Parent Guide for Ages 3 – 6: ‘How to Find the Answers to Your Questions.
You will know what questions are important for you as you make choices for your child. MSCA suggests visiting and observing more than one Montessori early childhood school or centre. Take time to observe the community of children. Visit the school/centre more than once. Deepen your understanding of what each Montessori early childhood school/centre has to offer your child. You could also visit other early childhood schools/centres to understand how Montessori early childhood communities offer a different experience for children in the early childhood years. If possible, visit a Montessori primary class in your area and see where Montessori can take primary-aged children.”
“MPPI is the joint advocacy arm of AMS and AMI/USA, formed in 2013 to create a unified voice for Montessori policy work. It emerged in response to education policy shifts in the late 1990s and early 2000s that created friction between Montessori practice and new early childhood regulations. Beyond advocacy, both AMS and AMI/USA also set classroom standards, support teacher preparation, and provide public resources, including:”
Montessori Essentials PDF
MEPI have an assortment of practical forms for program directors, which their teacher trainees use during their practice observations/teaching.
A checklist of classroom domains (to be evaluated with scores from 1 to 5), with categories including The Prepared Environment, The Adult, The Child, Classroom Management, Curriculum, Planning, Observation & Assessment, Record Keeping, and Professional Development.
AMI/USA have a detailed breakdown of their ‘Montessori Program Evaluation’ process, including a wide array of ‘Consultation Survey Forms.’
Advice for parents. Detailed descriptions of Montessori environments by level:
Toddler Community (18 mos to 2 ½ years) Guidelines – Infant
Casa/Primary level (2 ½ to 6 years) Guidelines – Primary
Elementary level (6 to 12 years) Guidelines – Elementary
“If you are reading this as a parent, then you are probably asking questions about Montessori and searching for some answers regarding whether Montessori education is right for you and your children. You are also likely to be seeking a clearer understanding of what Montessori education is.
We hope to give you some guidance and insights from this booklet, as well as answer some of your questions.”
Montessori with Integrity, a three=part series of articles, written for the American Montessori Society in 2022:
Explores the spectrum between “authentic” (strictly adhering to original practices) and implementation with “integrity” (faithfully committed to core components despite variations), asking if a program can be high-quality without being strictly “authentic”.
Part 2 – DEI and ABAR Practices
Focuses on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Anti-Bias/Antiracist (ABAR) principles.
Identifies real-world barriers to full implementation for both public and private schools. These include lack of Montessori knowledge among administrators, pressure from state standards, testing, and other regulatory constraints.
Evaluating an Assessment Tool for Montessori Fidelity: Preliminary Findings II PDF
How To Find A Great Montessori School PDF
A checklist for parents to take with them during visits to prospective Montessori schools.
School Visit Questionnaire PDF
From ‘Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents’
Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage PDF
A guidance framework that supports EYFS (United Kingdom) educators in understanding child development and creating learning experiences that meet the needs of young children, it emphasizes observation, play-based learning, strong relationships, and environments that encourage exploration and independence. Although aimed at teachers working in traditional classrooms, these ideas closely connect to Montessori education, which also focuses on child-centered learning, careful observation, hands-on experiences, and supporting each child’s natural development through a prepared environment.
Primary/Casa dei Bambini/Children’s House (3-6)