IMC Accreditation During Covid
BY LORNA MCGRATH
Director of School Accreditation
Given this extremely unusual and uncertain time, the IMC School Accreditation Commission (SAC)
is making some accommodations for schools in the accreditation process. The health and safety of all
school stakeholders and our onsite teams are of the utmost importance to us. We have determined that
many aspects of the school’s self-study process can be completed through digital documentation and
virtual interviews with school stakeholders.
Schools in the initial accreditation process can complete the digital submission of their self-study
package including their evidence and documentation for meeting each of the standards. Our virtual
verification teams will hold all the interviews with stakeholders using an online platform for groups.
Team members will meet together virtually to review documentation, interviews, questions, and notes.
However, we recognize that the onsite visit is more than just classroom observations and
interviews; being onsite provides a more holistic view of a school and is an essential part of the initial
accreditation process. During the time that onsite visits are prohibited, school’s will be required to
develop a narrative that speaks to how they are addressing the continued implementation of
Montessori pedagogical principles. The narrative would include details of the method for delivering
the curriculum to the students whether it is face-to-face, virtual, a combination of the two, etc. The
school must also provide a health & safety plan including social distancing, masking, disinfecting
classrooms, etc.
After all documentation and interviews are reviewed and accepted by SAC, accreditation status will be
recommended for approval by the IMC Board of Trustees. The candidate school will receive provisional
accreditation until an onsite can be safely scheduled or for a two year period whichever comes first.
Schools in the re-accreditation process will be able to complete the entire process through
digital submission of required documentation, virtual interviews, and classroom observations. The
exception being a school’s substantive changes which could
require an onsite verification visit. The School
Accreditation Commission will consider
schools in the re-accreditation process on
a case-by-case basis.
For more information or questions about the
IMC School Accreditation program
please contact Lorna McGrath,
lornamcgrath@montessori.org.
ACCREDITED SCHOOL
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