Abstract/Notes: With support from the Self Family Foundation and the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, the Riley Institute has completed a multi-year study of Montessori education in South Carolina’s public schools, the most comprehensive evaluation of public Montessori ever conducted in the United States. Between 2011 and 2016, this mixed-method study examined how Montessori impacts stakeholders in South Carolina and provided information needed to guide future investment in Montessori education. Researchers investigated the following as parts of the study: the extent to which schools implemented Montessori with fidelity; the demographic makeup of public school Montessori students; the effect of Montessori education on academic and behavioral outcomes; the impact of Montessori education on creativity, social skills, work habits, and executive function; and Montessori teachers’ perspectives on job satisfaction and the challenges of Montessori in the public sector. The study results demonstrate that students in public school Montessori classrooms across the state are faring well, as compared to similar nonMontessori public school students, when examining academic, behavioral, and affective outcomes.

Language: English

Published: Greenville, South Carolina, 2018

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

ISSN: 0889-5643

Language: English

ISSN: 0889-5643

Abstract/Notes: While our study focused only on South Carolina, it is safe to assume that at least some of these issues, and probably others, exist in other states as well. Because we are focusing on challenges and barriers, it may give the impression that the overall study findings were negative. Exacerbating this problem is that very few Montessori teachers in South Carolina express interest in moving into administrative positions, reducing the pool of potential administrators qualified to run a Montessori program. [...]few hired principals that come into Montessori schools have Montessori credentials or experience in Montessori classrooms or schools. Offer more professional development and training certificates. * Provide funds for Montessori administrators to enter a training program offering a Montessori Administrative credential. * Offer a user-friendly and low-cost online course on the basics of Montessori. 2. Provide more opportunities for networking/mentoring. * Form online groups for Montessori public school principals. * Assign experienced Montessori principals to mentor new Montessori principals. * Conduct periodic, regional meetings of Montessori administrators for networking and idea sharing. 2 THE EMPHASIS ON STATE STANDARDS VERSUS FOLLOWING THE MONTESSORI CURRICULUM While most South Carolina public Montessori teachers agreed that they were able to implement authentic Montessori while incorporating state standards, and over three-quarters of teachers reported using the Montessori curriculum/sequence training as their foremost teaching guide, nearly half of all teachers reported that their schools required them to use a pacing guide for following standards and benchmark testing.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: Rev. of article in AMI Communications 2007 #2.

Language: English

Language: English

Language: English

ISSN: 2156-9932

Language: English