The IMC Seal of Recognition
The purpose of the International Montessori Council Seal of Recognition Program is to offer schools a reasonably simple and inexpensive method of providing prospective parents and the general public with assurance that they offer educational programs that are effective and consistent with the essential characteristics of Montessori best practice at each age level offered. In addition, these schools follow the Code of Ethics of the International Montessori Council.
The Seal of Recognition Program is not IMC school accreditation, but rather recognition that the school meets specific standards associated with best practice in Montessori education.
It anticipates a shorter period of self-study and less intensive one day on-site visit by a small IMC validating team.
Rationale For A Program For The Recognition Of Excellent Montessori Schools
Although most schools try to remain faithful to their understanding of Dr. Montessori’s insights and research, they have been influenced by the evolution of the culture in which they live. Despite the impression held by many parents that the name Montessori refers to a universally held and practiced educational method and philosophy, the name Montessori is not protected by copyright, nor is there one central body with the power to authorize a schools’ use of the name.
Within the Montessori movement, there is considerable discussion and debate about what is, and what is not, Montessori best practice. Around the world we find Montessori schools that differ dramatically from one another in terms of practice and philosophy. While at times the elements of practice over which Montessori educators have differed have been silly, in more recent decades the variations have increased. At the same time, the Internet has made it simple for parents to glean reliable information about what Montessori is supposed to look like. Every year the number of parents who contact the Montessori Foundation about the inconsistencies between theory and practice in their children’s schools has grown.
As a result, many Montessori educators are concerned about these differing interpretations of Montessori. Today this issue has become a question of truth in advertising. We believe that the Montessori community needs to articulate essential criteria of best practice in Montessori education.
While Montessori may have come to mean different things to different people, underlying its many faces are essential elements of Montessori best practices. These core principles have resulted in a model which is highly effective, replicable, adaptable to different settings, and sustainable. These characteristics led to its world-wide dissemination and caused it to stand the test of time.
The IMC attempts to walk a razor’s edge by encouraging ongoing dialogue among Montessori educators who come from many different perspectives, while at the same time attempting to define and promote the legacy of essential Montessori principles and best practice.
This new program is designed to grant a IMC Seal of Recognition to Montessori schools which offer excellent Montessori programs but cannot afford the time and expense of completing full IMC school accreditation. It provides a means by which excellent Montessori schools can be officially recognized at reasonable cost by focusing only on those aspects that are essential to Montessori best practice.
