Our History

Montessori Nevada was founded in 2014 to effectively influence the standards of the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) in the State of Nevada. Montessori Nevada’s original objective was to actively advocate for Montessori early childhood programs across the state to independently deliver authentic Montessori curriculum without a penalty for not following the prescribed requirements of QRIS.  

 

Montessori Nevada was established as 501c(6) non-profit corporation to lobby and coordinate collaborative efforts within our state to 1) support high quality Montessori education and practices, 2) provide greater accessibility to Montessori education for all children, and 3) to ensure Montessori early childhood education is protected in Nevada policy and regulations. 

Montessori Nevada’s fundamental objectives set out to:

 

  • Develop a coalition of Montessori schools, individuals, and community patrons to strengthen, and grow quality Montessori education in Nevada.

  • Establish alignment with accrediting Montessori programs in our nation: AMI, AMS, MEPI, IMC.

  • Work with State leaders, policy makers, governmental agencies, schools, and other organizations to:

    1. Evaluate the newly adopted Quality Rating Improvement Standard (QRIS) process in Nevada to ensure Montessori educational methods are considered and fully recognized.

      1. Develop an alignment of Montessori curriculum with the Early Learning Standards put forth in the QRIS.

    2. Achieving appropriate recognition for the knowledge and competencies that individuals holding a Montessori teacher credential

      1. Through a state’s teacher licensure system

      2. Within a state’s child-care licensing regulations

      3. In a state’s early childhood workforce registry or career lattice

    3. Establish School Verification process to ensure full implementation of practiced and Montessori curriculum delivered to students (Montessori Essentials*)

 

*Working with the Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI) a national coalition to support state’s advocacy efforts, MONTESSORI Nevada receives relevant resources that have the strength of a larger, national initiative behind them, to policymakers.  It is important for the national Montessori community to speak with one voice to and develop regulations broad enough include accreditation standards of all national Montessori organizations.