The Montessori Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of Montessori education in the United States and abroad. We work with Montessori educational leaders, educators, and school board members to promote best practices in Montessori education, and to help Montessori schools to grow stable and strong. The Montessori Foundation also serves as a resource center and source of information, advice, and assistance to parents who are interested in Montessori education, or who have children currently attending Montessori schools. Montessori represents a distinctly different educational approach that has proven to be highly effective, replicable, adaptable, and sustainable around the world. The name Montessori is well known, but many Americans are just now becoming aware of the size of the movement and its growing support among leading proponents of meaningful educational reform. Boiled down to its essence, Montessori schools begin with children when they are very young, and nurtures their intelligence, creativity, and imagination. The program is designed to allow students to learn at their own pace, and is highly flexible. It is successful with a wide-range of learners, but especially the highly gifted. There are more than 5,000 Montessori schools in the United States, and it is estimated that there are some 50,000 world-wide. That number is rapidly expanding. Montessori schools are known for developing young people who have developed a passion for learning, a fierce sense of independence and responsibility, a global perspective, and a tradition of giving back to their communities. Our graduates include the founders of many of the world's most successful companies (Google, Amazon, AOL to name just three), and many other well-known figures in science, technology, and the arts.

Impact Summary from the Nonprofit Major programs: The NewGate School in Sarasota is our Lab School. It serves as a national center for program and curriculum development. It is a fully accredited international Montessori academy for students from age 18 months through the 12th grade. Over the years, NewGate has continued to draw hundreds of families to Sarasota because of its international reputation and ties to the Montessori Foundation. The Center for Montessori Leadership runs a wide-range of programs of professional development for Montessori school administrators. Our Publications Center offers professional resources for Montessori educators, many of which are authored by our staff. We publish Tomorrow's Child magazine for Montessori families. It is read by more than 5,000 Montessori schools and 30,000 subscribers around the world. Montessori Family Life - A national program aimed at supporting positive family life and values. International conferences for Montessori educators: Our annual international conference is held in Sarasota every November. School Consultation: We provide expert guidance in the formation of new schools, new program development, strategic planning, facilities design, and preparation for accreditation. Curriculum and Program Development for Montessori Schools: The Foundation places special focus on international studies, Arts immersion programs, second language study, organic school garden programs, teaching philosophy and ethics to young children, peace education in schools, and the development of Montessori middle and high schools. The Montessori Academy for Peace offers program of retreats, workshops, and symposia for educators on issues specifically connected to the development of Peaceful Children, Peaceful Families, and Peaceful School Communities. The International Montessori Council is our membership and school accreditation arm. We publish its professional journal, Montessori Leadership. We maintain an Online Directory of Montessori Schools.