Employs teachers who have Montessori credentials for what  they teach                          

Ridgeline Teachers all have Montessori credentials, plus state certification

Budget for future Montessori education for teachers not Montessori certified

Ridgeline has provided training & will continue

Provide professional Montessori in-service by experienced Montessori educators

Each teacher is granted up to $1000 per year for professional development

Contract for on-going internal and periodic external Montessori consultation

Ridgeline plans a consultant visit each year for an evaluation

Employ one paraprofessional per classroom,  each  having Montessori orientation

Our paraprofessionals are either Montessori certified, state certified or have years of exp.

Employ an experienced Montessori teacher as curriculum coordinator

Not yet.  This position may be added in the 2006-2007 school year

Employ a principal who has knowledge of Montessori principles  through coursework  or annual conference exposure   

Ridgeline’s current principal has lots of experience in public school administration and now we are training a Montessori administrator for the future.

Maintain commitment to the core Montessori curriculum

Big yes.  This is why the staff is here

Recognize that the best implementation process is to begin with the 3-6 age group and  add one age at a time for a  gradual progression                      

We practice progression but must start five year olds, by charter law.

Provide Montessori parent education

Ridgeline has monthly Montessori lectures from one of the teachers, monthly Newsletter Articles, Montessori Reading Groups, Four Curriculum Nights, Website, Guest Speakers, and yearly lectures from Ridgeline's consultant.

Develop an admission process that informs parents about the nature of  Montessori & seek commitments  

Ridgeline provides two information sessions, has a website and provides detailed information by phone and in person.

Offers a full complement of Montessori materials from  Montessori  dealers 

Yes. Nearly $30,000 per classroom 

Develop a classroom design that is compatible with the   “prepared environment”   

Oh, yes.  Just walk in and see.

Create uninterrupted daily work periods of 90 minutes  to 3 hours—the latter being ideal

Our minimum this year is 2 hours 45 minutes,  some with 3 + hours

Integrated specialty programs  (music, art, PE, Spanish) around  work periods

Ridgeline has music, art , PE and Spanish

Apply the appropriate multi-age groupings necessary for diversity,  flexibility, and reduced competition integral to Montessori 

Except for our stand alone Kindergarten Ridgeline now meets this criteria.

Report student progress that is compatible  with Montessori  instruction

We do one child run conference and have two report cards each year.

Implement state mandated assessments in such a way that the character of the Montessori program is not compromised adjustments have been made in class

State assessments have  not been intrusive and only small modifications to our Montessori curriculum are required.

Budget for continuing education through  Montessori workshops and conferences       

Each teacher has up to $1000 per year for continuing education/workshops/conferences.

Maintain membership with one or more of  the professional Montessori organizations and seek Montessori accreditation 

Yes.  We are an AMS Subscriber Institution and could qualify for  Accreditation if we had the $ (about $1800 per year)