Irish Montessori Education Board - Bord Oideachais Montessori Eireann
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Accreditation and Registration of Montessori Schools
Process of Accreditation and Registration of AMI Montessori Schools and St. Nicholas Montessori Schools.
- Dr. Maria Montessori believed that the prepared environment is the frame work within which the child's full potential is reached and that the teacher becomes the keeper and custodian of the environment
- These are the principles upon which the Association of AMI Teachers Ireland and the St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland base their registration procedures.
- The Association of AMI Teachers Ireland and the St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland are referred to below as the Associations.
Schools Accreditation
AMI Montessori Diploma holders and St. Nicholas Diploma holders appropriate to the age group being taught may apply for a Certificate of Accreditation from their associations.
Assessors approved by the association of AMI Teachers Ireland will assess AMI Montessori Schools. Assessors approved by the St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland will assess St. Nicholas Montessori Schools.
IMEB has given approval to the minimum standards required by the Associations' Assessors. Successful applicants will receive a certificate of Accreditation from their association and a Certificate of Registration will be issued by IMEB.
The Associations' accreditation of schools will be carried out by means of an on-site evaluation.
To be accredited by IMEB a school must comply with the essential standards published in the Associations' guidelines for Accreditation. Each applicant must achieve substantial compliance with these standards in order to be granted Accreditation by IMEB.
If more than one school is operated by the same owner/proprietor each school must be registered separately.
Confidentiality
All information associated with the accreditation of a school is deemed to be confidential and privileged information. Use or disclosure of data obtained as a result of serving in any capacity involved in the Associations' Accreditation process is not authorised and is considered to be a breach of confidence.
Conflict of Interest
Any person involved in the accreditation process of a school shall be obliged to withdraw from deliberations where there is a perceived conflict of interest.
Examples of
such circumstances would include the assessor being:
1. An owner or employee of the school for which recommendations are
considered.
2. An owner or employee of a school in close proximity to the school for
which recommendations are considered.
Major Change
A school which has been registered by the Associations, must inform the Associations if a major change occurs in the school.
A major
change may be defined as:
1. Change of ownership
2. Change of personnel
3. Change of location
Renewal of Accreditation
School accreditation expires after 3 years. Renewal requires a new application and on-site visit.
Accreditation Status
The Associations render one of four separate Accreditation decisions to Members' Montessori Schools:
1. Full Accreditation
2. Short Term Deferral of Accreditation
3. Denial of Accreditation
4. Revocation of Accreditation
Full Accreditation is awarded when the school shows that it is in substantial compliance with the essential standards of the guidelines for Montessori Schools.
Short Term Deferral of Accreditation identifies minor short comings which must be addressed before full Registration is awarded.
Denial of Accreditation indicates that a school does not demonstrate substantial compliance with the Associations' Guidelines for Montessori schools, or the teaching personnel does not have the required qualifications.
Revocation of Accreditation applies to schools which are no longer in substantial compliance with the Associations' Guidelines for Montessori schools, or in the event of a change of teaching personnel, that the teachers do not have the required qualifications.
Grievance Procedure
The Associations' recognise the right of any applicant to seek redress for a grievance in connection with any aspect of his/her application for registration and has instituted procedures to be followed in such a case.
1. The Applicant should attempt to resolve the problem by seeking an appointment with the appropriate person i.e. the schools Assessor. Grievances may be stated orally or in writing. All parties concerned attempt to agree a solution.
2. If the grievance is not resolved within a reasonable time the applicant may present it orally or in writing to the executive committees of the Associations.
3. If the grievance remains unresolved the applicant may appeal to the IMEB.