Parents who choose a CCMA Accredited Member school are joining those who want the best possible education for their children based on authentic Montessori education.

CCMA sets standards to protect the Montessori name. Accreditation by CCMA holds schools accountable to each other, to parents, and to the larger community. Accreditation establishes a consistency of standards and the preservation of the Montessori philosophy of education. For parents, CCMA provides information and education to make good choices and support their children in Montessori schools.

A CCMA school offers your child:

• A carefully prepared child-centred environment
• Mixed-age (family groupings) per classroom
• An opportunity to progress at their own pace
• Activity-based learning
• Freedom and responsibility
• Co-operation and collaboration in a non-competitive environment
• Creativity and curiosity and leads children to ask questions, explore, investigate, and think for themselves as they acquire skills

A CCMA school offers you as a parent:

• Ongoing feedback on your child’s progress
• An invitation to participate in many aspects of school life
• An environment where parents and teachers support each other with the desire to help your child be successful

An accredited member shall meet the following criteria:

• Are guided by the educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori.
• Have one teacher in each classroom who holds an age-appropriate diploma from an AMI or MACTE accredited teacher training institute or any other teacher training program that may be recognized by CCMA.
• Have a Full range of Montessori materials in each classroom as recommended by CCMA, which offers the broad curriculum to allow for sequential learning.
• Have an uninterrupted work cycle that is ‘age and stage’ appropriate (e.g. range from 1 to 2 hours for Toddler; 2 to 3 hours for Casa; 2 ½ to 3 hours for Elementary), to allow for the development of focus.
• Recordkeeping including: tracking, lesson planning, record of child’s work in progress, and weekly anecdotal notes on each child.
• Have a policy of admitting children to the program at the appropriate age level consistent with Montessori principles that follow the developmental stages and sensitive periods for learning.
• Have multi-age groupings in each classroom (with a span of 1 year or more in the Toddler classroom and 3 years in the Casa and Elementary classrooms), which supports the concept that learning is a social process.
• Require attendance 5 days a week, for consistency in learning, with consideration for a phase-in period for Toddler.
• Abide by the CCMA Code of Ethics.

History

The CCMA was founded in 1977 by a small group of dedicated administrators who were committed to supporting each other and promoting public awareness of what an authentic Montessori school offers to families. Today there are more than 110 schools in the organization ranging in size from an enrollment of 30 students to larger schools of over 700 students. Toddler, early childhood, elementary and adolescent programmes are all represented within CCMA schools.

CCMA Mission

CCMA promotes standards of excellence in Montessori education through accreditation, support and service, and provides a unified voice for our members across Canada.

CCMA Vision

CCMA schools will implement an education that meets the needs of each individual child and inspires them to make the world a better place.

Values

The Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators is a legally registered Canadian, not-for-profit corporation committed to supporting Canadian Montessori administrators and schools. The CCMA provides a unified voice in negotiations with the government and other agencies.

Visit ccma.ca here.