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International Montessori Accreditation Council (IMAC) |
The International Montessori Accreditation Council (IMAC) was organized in 1994 as an inclusive umbrella accrediting agency to provide accreditaiton for teacher education throughout the entire Montessori community. This agency evolved over many years of interest in the field to have some consistent basis for measuring quality and assuring public accountability and standards in Montessori teacher education.
 History
Since many diverse Montessori teacher education groups and interests arose after Dr. Montessori's death in 1952, there was a concern for harmonizing and reconciling these differences through such means as institutional accreditation. In 1978, Lee Havis first prepared and presented the concept of an inclusive umbrella accediting agency for the entire Montessori community. Efforts for such an agency were pursued again in 1987, and these proceedings eventually led to the formation of IMAC in 1994.
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Broad, inclusive Standards
IMAC assures its inclusive character through essential standards which are broad enough to include the widest possible scope of format, style and approach to teacher education. Based on the published writings of Dr. Montessori, these standards maintain a close correspondence and cohesive bonding to basic Montessori philosophy and principles. However, there are no rigid minimum number of hours required for such components as residential training, "curriculum" content or "internship". Therefore, courses which are primarily correspondence in approach or otherwise non-traditional are fully included.
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Consensus Decision-making
An important feature of the IMAC agency is its "consensus" decision-making policy. This was chosen over a "majority" rule type decision-making approach to especially protect the rights of the minority institutions which might otherwise be excluded because of their non-traditonal or unusual form of program operation. Final decision-making for accreditation is in the hands of an Advisory Committee consisting entirely of public representatives. This public composition helps to assure an objective basis of decision-making, and avoids any undue or unnecessary controversy or disputes among the various Montessori institutions and organizations involved. |
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Government Recognition
In 1994, IMAC submitted its petition for recognition as an accrediting agency with the U.S. Department of Education. This effort demonstrated that any federal government recognition is improer in the field of Montessori Education for various technical reasons. IMAC is therefore seeking to repeal this recognition procedure for all private accredation agencies due to the misleading impression of quality, it gives in the field of teacher education. Contact IMAC for more details or to cooperate in our efforts to create a fair and unbaised representation of Montessori education in the United States. |
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Structure
Accreditation Committee
Final decision-making for IMAC accreditation resides in the hands of its accreditation committee. This committee consists of members of the general public, outside the field of Montessori education, who have an interest, experience and background in basic accreditation procedures and higher education. Current members are: :
Jerry Duvall , Ph.D.
Richard Matteson , Ed.
H. Kent Baker , Ph.D.
Review Committees
Two review committee are presently operating to evaluate self-study reports, supervise on-site visits and make recommendations for accreditation to the Accreditation Committee. Applicants must submit to their review which is based on specific written criteria and procedures. Other review committees may be approved to operate within IMAC, as these are organized and approved to operate under the authority of collaborating oranizations. Review committees establish their criteria according to their own emphasis and perceptions of need for Montessori teacher education, based on broad inclusive essential standards.
This committee considers all applications from teacher education programs that are not affiliated with a collaborating organization. Members of this committee are:
Lee Havis , Silver Spring, Maryland (AMS, '76)
Judy Iao, Venice, Florida
G.S. Pitigala , Centreville, Virginia(WTC, '72)
- IMS Review Committee
This committee considers all applications from teacher education programs that are affliated with the International Montesori Society (IMS). Members are:
Aaron Evans, Houston, TX
Donna Curtis, Bitburg, Germany (IMS,'02)
Participation Welcome
Any Montessori organization which establishes standards for the affiliation of teacher education may become qualified to participate as a collaborating organization. It will then set up and operate a review committee to preserve and protect its own unique form, approach and criteria in this activity. There are no minimum number of teacher education programs that a collaborating organization must have affiliated in order to qualify. Of course, non-affiliated, independent teacher education institutions may apply on their own for accreditation through the criteria and procedures of the IMAC Generic Review Committee.
Currently accredited with IMAC is:
International Montessori Society
8115 Fenton Street Suite #304
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel. (301) 589-1127
Valid to 2011
(accredited under IMS review commitee)
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for further information about IMAC, its standards and operation, contact:
IMAC, c/o Lee Havis, 8115 Fenton Street #304, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Tel. (301) 589-1127; e-mail to havis@imsmontessori.org |
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