Accreditations

AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY
Pioneer Valley Montessori School is the only American Montessori Society (AMS) Accredited Member School in western Massachusetts and one of only 15 in New England and only 160 nationally. Accreditation by AMS is a rigorous process that a school must undergo, which involves meeting many standards set by AMS and having an on site visit by a professional team of educators. It has met the standards set forth in the AMS Accreditation School Handbook. Pioneer Valley Montessori School has gone through this process so that you, the parents, can know that your child is at an authentic Montessori school. Unfortunately, the name, "Montessori" is in the public domain and any school can say that it is a Montessori school. Unless you have studied Montessori in some depth, it can be difficult for a parent to know if a school really has the hallmarks of Montessori education. The website for the American Montessori Society is www.amshq.org, if you would like to learn more about the accreditation process.

ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN NEW ENGLAND
Pioneer Valley Montessori School is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE). The school is currently in the process of re-accreditation with AISNE. Independent schools are a particular kind of non-profit private school, distinguished by having a free-standing board of trustees that is solely responsible for the school and by being independently funded, primarily by tuition.