Montessori Partnerships for Georgia

Open enrollment for DeKalb County's public Montessori programs runs through December 11! Apply now for PreK-5th grade Montessori classes at Briar Vista and Huntley Hills, for the 2027-2028 school year.

Heads up, AMI schools! AMI/USA now requires 12 professional development hours annually for teachers at AMI-recognized schools! You can earn 4 hours at our upcoming literacy workshop-- it promises to be an amazing journey through the links between Montessori and the science of reading!

The Montessori Literacy Map: Science‑Aligned Strategies for Casa and Elementary Environments • Montessori Partnerships for Georgia The Montessori Literacy Map: Science‑Aligned Strategies for Casa and Elementary Environments Dates: Part I: October 17, 2026; Part II: October 31, 2026 (Registration Deadline Oct 9) Times: 11:30 AM –…

I'm so excited for our upcoming Montessori literacy workshop! Zil Jaeger offers a deep dive into the ways Montessori lessons respond to the science of reading, along with tweaks and adjustments to maximize the power of our approach. Register today for this virtual, 2-part workshop!

montessori-partnerships.org

Montessori works! Help ensure every child can benefit. As a member of the Thousand Chain monthly giving club, you can provide crucial support for public Montessori across Georgia. https://montessori-partnerships.org/donate/thousand-chain-monthly-giving-program/

Montessori: A Parent Perspective Montessori made a real difference for these twins who attended Prem...

NEWS ALERT:

Make your voice heard!

The federal Office of Head Start has proposed eliminating nearly all the rules governing the way Head Start is implemented, while adding a few new ones.

We at Montessori Partnerships for Georgia are working hard to understand the potential impacts of these proposed changes and determine a response. We are partnering with two different groups, convened by the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS) and the Ideal Learning Head Start Network to learn more.

Head Start is a federally funded program that supports early learning and development for children birth to five from low-income families. For many years, it has been known for the high quality of its programs-- and also for the challenges of complying with Head Start's many detailed regulations.

These are some things in the proposed rule change that we're most concerned about:

- The elimination of staff to child ratio requirements and maximum group sizes. Head Start programs would simply have to follow state licensing requirements. Licensing requirements typically provide a bare minimum floor, not a standard of quality care. (For instance, Georgia allows 12 infants to be cared for in a room with 2 adults-- falling far short of any conceivable measure of quality.)

- A new requirement that all instruction be conducted in English only. Currently, Head Start programs are encouraged to support bilingual children's home languages if staffing allows. The proposed rule would prohibit bilingual and dual-immersion classes in Head Start, except in tribal programs.

- A new requirement that programs cap administrative costs at 5%. This is a drastic change from the current 15% limit, and will make it much harder for small programs to participate in Head Start.

And this is what we are curious about:

- Will eliminating the performance standards make it easier for Montessori programs to participate in Head Start? Over the years, we have heard concerns from Montessori programs nationwide about the restrictions associated with Head Start funding. Would the proposed changes ease these burdens? We're working to figure it out.

Want to learn more about the proposed changes? You can read FAQs from the First Five Years Fund here: https://www.ffyf.org/2026/08/19/faq-2026-head-start-nprm

Want to make your voice heard? The opportunity to submit a public comment is open until October 6. You can read the full Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and/or submit a comment to the Federal Register here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

Thank you Georgia Montessori Activists!

Frequently Asked Questions: 2026 Head Start NPRM FFYF has heard directly from providers, parents, and advocates with questions about what this proposal would actually mean for Head Start. We've compiled those questions here, along with clear, straightforward answers.

Thinking about public Montessori for next year? October is the time to enter DeKalb County's public Montessori lottery, for enrollment next fall. Here's how to apply:https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1759501970/dekalbschoolsgaorg/jmblvuyiwaljfx5jgzqt/SchoolChoiceApplicationStep-By-StepInstructions.pdf

Some newsworthy highlights from our July newsletter!

1. A Big Win for 3-Year Olds

Mixed-age classes beginning at age three are a key aspect of Montessori education. Research shows very strong outcomes for children who attend a Montessori Children's House for three years, from age three through kindergarten. https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-led-national-study-finds-montessori-preschool-boosts-learning-cuts-costs

These three-year classes are challenging to set up in publicly funded programs because each age level is funded differently. In the 38 years that public Montessori has existed in Georgia, there has never been a publicly funded Montessori class serving children from age three through kindergarten-- until now.

This fall, three-year-olds will join all five of the Children's House classes at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy in Savannah! Their big win follows years of conversations between school and district leaders. Now that they have three-year mixed-age groups at the Children's House, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary levels, the school is eligible for accreditation from the American Montessori Society (AMS).

Congratulations to principal Patrice Prince and former principal Tanya Melville at Charles Ellis and to Dr. Denise Watts, Superintendent of the Savannah-Chatham County School System, on this achievement!

2. Student Voices Celebrate Montessori

This spring, Huntley Hills Elementary School in DeKalb County held its first Bridging Ceremony, bringing together children and families from all levels of Montessori to celebrate the children moving up to new classes and graduating from the program!

The students offered a powerful affirmation of the impact Montessori can have in public schools.

Congratulations to the teachers, children and school leaders at Huntley Hills!

3. Upcoming Workshop: Meeting the Need for Literacy Training
Training requirements for teachers and early educators have increased. We're here to help meet the need!

Our fall workshop, The Montessori Literacy Map: Science‑Aligned Strategies for Casa and Elementary Environments, presented by Zil Jaeger, will help schools meet both requirements. It will provide powerful insights into the ways Montessori aligns with the science of reading, as well as some important shifts needed to strengthen that alignment.

This two‑part workshop is designed for credentialed Montessori Children's House and Elementary lead teachers and will take place from 11:30-1:30 on October 17th and 31st. Registration information coming soon!

Not on our mailing list yet? Sign up here for updates! https://tinyurl.com/2zjuay64

"I'm here today to present to you what Montessori has meant to me over these past 7 wonderful years. What Montessori has meant to me is providing the gentle guidance and structured freedom that allows a child to discover their own potential at their own pace. What Montessori means to me is that you never give up even if it's something you've never learned or something your not the best at. What Montessori means to me is getting along with everyone even if it's some you don't talk to as much...I'm so thankful to be in Montessori."
--Idaliz N., 5th grade Montessori graduate

This Wednesday! Check out the new Montessori class opening at Premier Academy's Minnie Howell location in south Atlanta! Head Start and CAPS funding available.

Reserve your spot here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIrybCOPz1eJoAh_eY5ttxn8YeerCi8bTGrmrZ-Y_r24IroQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Check out this upcoming course from our friends at the Black Montessori Education Fund and Montessori Training Center Northeast! This in-depth orientation to the Montessori approach for 3-6-year-olds is great for classroom assistants, administrators, parent educators, and anyone interested in learning more about Montessori!

(3-6) Orientation starting July 13, 2026 with BMEF – Montessori Training Center Northeast This course is an introduction to Maria Montessori’s educational theory and practice for childrenin the Primary (3-6) level. It is designed for classroom assistants, teachers, administrators, parenteducators, parents, and anyone interested in the Montessori approach to education.Through lectures, ...

A great opportunity for free Montessori professional development from the amazing team at MINT!

We do not usually share all the dates at once, but for everyone who likes to plan ahead for free events, this one is for you.

The 2026–2027 MINT Professional Learning Community dates are now available for 0-3 Practitioners, 3-6, and 6-12.

This 100% sponsored, free series gives Montessori practitioners a regular space to step into conversation with others who understand the work.

Save the dates for the full year, and join us when the new school year begins. (And help your friends find out about this!)

Register to receive reminders: montessori-mint.org/plc