What people ask before they apply.

No. The Residency was built for educators who are committed to the work, not for educators who have already completed it. What you need is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a genuine equity commitment, and access to a Montessori observation site. If you are still finishing your degree, you can be admitted to the academic phase while you complete it, as long as it is conferred before your practicum year begins. Everything else we build together.

The planned format is designed for working educators: largely virtual learning with live cohort support, observation practice, and in-person intensives. The intensive schedule and venue are not confirmed, so residents will need to review those commitments once finalized. The practicum year requires a placement in a Montessori school as a paid guide or assistant guide, which for many residents means transitioning into or continuing in a Montessori role while completing supervised hours.

The submitted design includes two 40-hour intensives for Primary (80 hours total) and three 40-hour intensives for Elementary I–II (120 hours total). Intensives are planned for summer or school breaks to use host-school classrooms and materials. Session dates and the instructional venue are not confirmed; the proposed schedule must be reconciled with host-school availability and authorization. These remain planned offerings subject to Illinois authorization, with Primary planned for the initial launch.

The planned Primary track combines academic study, in-person intensives, and a supervised practicum year. The final schedule remains subject to confirmation and Illinois authorization. Primary is planned for the initial launch; Elementary is also in development. We are not enrolling yet: we are waiting on state authorization from Illinois before we begin instruction, and we will announce a start date once we are approved. See the calendar page for scheduling updates.

There are written exams at the end of each strand, two oral exams across the full program, a 2,000-word capstone reflection at completion, and seminar reflections submitted before every session. Everything is reviewed by your Cohort Guide and documented in your program portfolio for the accreditation record. The exams are not surprises. They are the natural conclusion of the work you have been doing all year.

The Cohort Guide is your primary relationship with the program across the full year. They facilitate your twice-monthly seminars, review your album entries, conduct virtual observations of your classroom practice during the practicum year, and connect monthly with your on-site Site Mentor. They hold an AMI credential at the appropriate level with a minimum of five years of lead guide experience. They are a more experienced Montessori educator who accompanies you through the full arc of your formation.

Two people. Your Cohort Guide conducts two formal virtual observations across the practicum year and continues to facilitate your twice-monthly seminars. Your Site Mentor is the credentialed guide at your practicum school who is present daily and conducts four formal quarterly observations. Both use the same observation rubric and submit written feedback stored in your portfolio, and they connect monthly to share updates on your progress.

When no AMI or AMS-credentialed guide is employed at the placement site, the Program Coordinator assumes full observation responsibility for that resident’s practicum year, conducting all four formal quarterly observations using the same protocol and documentation as standard placements. The host school designates a School Liaison for daily presence and logistical support; that person does not conduct formal observations and is not required to hold a credential. Because on-site observations require travel, associated travel costs are the responsibility of the resident or the host school, agreed in writing before placement approval. Placements of this type require prior approval from the Program Coordinator.

MACTE is the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, the only accreditor of Montessori teacher preparation programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A MACTE-accredited credential is the standard recognized by Montessori schools across the country and internationally. The Residency is an Applicant in Good Standing for its Primary (3–6) level with MACTE (macte.org). Applicant in Good Standing status in no way determines the outcome of MACTE’s accreditation decisions. The program is designed and documented in full alignment with MACTE’s Quality Principles. Accreditation is not guaranteed; Applicant in Good Standing is not accreditation.

Every seminar is recorded and posted to the platform within 24 hours. Residents who miss a session watch the recording and post a brief reflection in the cohort channel so the Cohort Guide knows they engaged with the content. The program is built for working adults and the structure reflects that.

The practicum year follows the academic phase. The planned model involves paid work as a guide or assistant guide while completing supervised teaching and observation hours under the final approved program requirements. Employment and placements are not guaranteed. The Cohort Guide continues the twice-monthly seminars, shifted to practicum integration and community support. The Site Mentor provides daily on-site guidance. Formal observations happen quarterly. A midpoint check-in with Hannah happens at the halfway mark of every practicum year, without exception.

Residency enrollment and payments are closed while state authorization is pending.

The planned graduate support includes a credential, a complimentary 12-month Field Guide subscription, a connection to MatchHub, and Third Period alumni gatherings. The Residency is not enrolling and has no current graduate pipeline. Employment and placements are not guaranteed.