IMC Accreditation
Sun Grove Montessori School first achieved full accreditation status in 2016 from the International Montessori Council (IMC).
2023 Re-Accreditation
In 2023, Sun Grove Montessori School was re-awarded Full School Accreditation by the International Montessori Council (IMC), the highest accreditation status IMC grants. It’s valid through July 2028.
As part of the process, a three-member IMC OnSite Verification Team spent four days on our campus in February 2023. The team observed every classroom from Infant through Middle School, along with our outdoor classrooms, nature trail, and before- and after-school programs, and interviewed 67 members of our community, including parents, faculty and staff, board members, and students.
The team’s commendations included:
- A community united in its vision for every child to have an authentic Montessori experience, a purpose that has guided Sun Grove since 1978.
- Fully qualified Lead Montessori Guides at every level, supported by assistants and staff with a deep understanding of Montessori philosophy and practice.
- Full implementation of, and respect for, the Montessori uninterrupted work cycle at every level of the school.
- An outstanding, out-of-the-box Middle School program.
- Renovated Elementary and Middle School classrooms to accommodate growing enrollment.
- A detailed strategic plan with clear objectives, timelines, and accountability, and an ongoing coaching model that supports our teachers’ continued growth.
- A Board of Directors committed to the strength and stability of the school.
The IMC team thanked Sun Grove “for engaging in an intentional re-accreditation process and your commitment to high-quality, authentic Montessori education.” We’re proud of this recognition and committed to the continuous renewal and improvement that accreditation asks of us.
Accreditation indicates to the public that we have voluntarily invited our practices to be compared with the standards of Best Practice established by leaders in the International Montessori School Accreditation community. This process will ensure we remain authentic in our practice, effective in our work with children, and worthy of public trust and confidence.
At least once every five years, an outside team of Montessori school professionals trained in the International Montessori Council School Accreditation Program visits the school to verify compliance with the standards. Unlike inspections by governmental licensing bodies, International Montessori Council School Accreditation is voluntary. Licensing focuses on the enforcement of minimum standards. Accreditation focuses on education and evaluation of a school’s operation using criteria and standards that will normally go beyond the minimum requirements of governmental regulation.
The IMC Accreditation Self-Study Process Consists of Three Integrated Phases:
Phase 1
The school clearly defines its institutional identity, Montessori principles, enduring values and beliefs, and educational outcomes.
Phase 2
The School initiates a Self-Study, in which the school documents how it meets the basic characteristics and principles of Best Practice found in all excellent Montessori schools. This phase follows an objective self-study approach.
Phase 3
The School develops a written School Improvement/Strategic Plan, in which the school prepares an ongoing plan for continuing to move the entire school (educational program, faculty, administration, facilities, membership and enrollment, marketing and public relations, fund raising and capital resource development, governance, finances) closer to its ideal as set forth in its vision and blueprint.
