2015! The Year for Montessori Education

2015! Time for resolutions, right? With conversation, initiatives, and proposed policy changes at the local, state and federal level, it's time for us to TAKE ACTION !

The Opportunities~

• $1 billion in private and public funding for early childhood education
• Pre-school Development Grants in 18 states
• Re-authorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant with scholarships parents can use for the early childhood program of their choice.
• Program continuity to serve children birth to age 8, mixed delivery systems creating community partnerships between public and private programs.
• Changes in QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System) with greater financial and marketing benefits for private programs.
• Changes to student assessments for PK-12 and teacher evaluations.
• Regulation changes for teacher preparation programs which include free standing as well as university based programs.
• Increased pathways for recognition of "alternative" programs leading to state teacher licensure.
• Professional Registries to recognize professionalism of early childhood educators with financial incentives for professional development, scholarships, student loan forgiveness.
• Likely re authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) also known as No Child Left Behind, with potential for vouchers, increase in charter schools, and changes to the Common Core standards and assessments.

Recent Research~

• Based on a study that concludes that Kindergarten is the new First Grade, NAEYC (National Association of Education for Young Children) suggests that young children need programs which provide for choice of activity.
• A review of Head Start research concludes that the benefits of Head Start disappear by third grade and that there is no benefit to smaller class size.
• A recent study concludes that EC programs which provide for positive social-emotional experiences and conflict resolution skills results in a decrease in anti-social behavior in adults.

Resolutions for Action~

• Join or start a state Montessori organization. Grassroots advocacy action has power in numbers.
• Advocate for recognition of the Montessori teacher credential for state licensure and within the Professional Registry.
• Partner with community and state agencies to provide high quality Montessori education for all children in public and private Montessori schools.
• Make Montessori Meaningful with the Montessori Forward state Validation Project.
• Educate parents, state and local agency folks, influence policy makers.

Engage in Montessori grassroots advocacy action. Look for how-to, tools, templates, and support at Montessori Forward.org. Contact montforward@gmail.com

Happy New Year! Let's make it the Year of Montessori!