The MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) Commission is an autonomous, international, nonprofit postsecondary accrediting agency for Montessori teacher training programs. The Commission accredits (1) independent postsecondary educational institutions which offer comprehensive, in-residence courses of Montessori teacher training; and (2) programs or departments offering such courses which are located within institutions already accredited by another recognized agency. A Montessori teacher education course is defined as postsecondary instruction designed to: develop expertise in the educational system developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, including its philosophies, teacher roles, and design of curricula and enviroments; assure basic knowledge of child development, including major theorists and contemporary research; and lead to certification in Montessori teaching with a specified child age range within the period from birth to age 18. MACTE was created in 1991 by the joining of two previous groups: the Accrediting Association for Montessori Teacher Education (AAMTE), an outgrowth of an ad hoc committee of Montessori educators founded in 1987; and the Accreditation Council for Childhood Education Specialist Schools(ACCESS), which accredited Montessori teacher courses from 1982. It is of great significance that the MACTE Essential Standards and Criteria, which must be successfully implemented in order for an institution or program to achieve accreditation (see "The Essential Standards"), were written through consensus by representatives of all the major professional societies. These included: The American Montessori Internationale (AMI) The American Montessori Society (IAPM) The International Association of Progressive Montessori(IAPM) The National Center for Montessori Education (NCME) The London Montessori Center(LMC) The Pan Americann Montessori Society (PAMS) The Montessori Institute of America (MIA) The St. Nicholas Montessori Centres of London and Dublin Many programs offered by independent institutes not affiliated with any of the above. To advocate high professional standards in preparation of the Montessori teacher and establish criteria for program excellence; To evaluate and accredit Montessori teacher education institutions and programs; To indentify Montessori teacher training programs for the purpose of determining eligibility for student assistance and/or participation in other federal programs; To promote cooperation among the diverse entities in the Montessori community; and To publish lists of those institutions and programs which conform to MACTE standards and policies. The MACTE Commission currently accredits institutions/programs for Montessori training programs designed for these age levels: Infant and Toddler(birth through age 3) Early Childhood (ages 2 1/2 through 6) Elementary I or I-II (ages 6-9 or 6-12) Secondary I or II (ages 12-15 or 12-18) In connection with its accreditation activities, the Commission is also committed to the support of fair practice standards in education, promotion of cooperative activity among participating organizations and institutions, facilitation of the accreditation process for participants, monitoring and research consistent with its activities, the provision of public information, and fulfillment of the criteria for recognition of its accreditation by the U.S. Department of Education. Initial recognition of the MACTE Commission on Accreditation was granted by the Department of Education in 1995.

How Does the Commission Work?

The MACTE Commission on Accreditation is made up of reprensentatives from Organization and Consortium members, independent course members, and the public. The Commission meets twice each year (in May or November), and is responsible for decision-making with regard to accreditation of programs/institutions and for the monitoring of policies and procedures. The Commission carries out its activities through its Review Committees, which administer the process of course evaluation. Review Committees meet at least twice a year; they are responsible for the coordination of such key functions as providing information and consultation, communicating organization-specific requirements, maintaining a pool of qualified evaluators and assigning on-site teams, evaluating programs' compliance with standards and criteria, formulating accreditation recommendations to the Commission, maintaining records, and monitoring actitvities of their programs.

Who is Eligible for Accreditation?

The accreditation process is open to any teacher training institution or program which meets the Essential Standards, Criteria, and Review Committee guidelines for its Montessori teacher training programs. Institutions are eligible for accreditation regardless of their professional affiliation, organizational form, sources of financial support, or size of enrollment. Cost to the program/institution includes application fees and, upon the award of accredited status, annual fees and per-student fees. Expenses for visits by on-site teams are also borne by the programs or institution. Inquiries should be directed to the Commission's national office({888} 446-2283). The MACTE Accreditation Handbook, designed to guide the accreditation efforts of both organizations and institutions, is available at reasonable cost.