Accreditation
Shining Stars Montessori Academy Public Charter School is the only Montessori Public Charter School (in Washington, DC) dually accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS), and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Receiving accreditation is extremely important to our team at Shining Stars. We continue to look at our school through the lens of Montessori standards, values, and principles. Being accredited by organizations such as the American Montessori Society and the Middle States Association is an honor and a true testament to the commitment of our community to help each child reach their full potential.
American Montessori Society (AMS) - www.amshq.org
The American Montessori Society (AMS) self-study process is based in the Montessori philosophy and is directly aligned with Montessori pedagogy, as well as the SSMA mission and vision. AMS is an independent organization that validates the quality of pre-K through 12th-grade Montessori schools nationwide. AMS validates schools serving students ranging in age from infancy through high school through their accreditation process.AMS provides assurance to families that their child’s school is an exceptionally high-quality Montessori program that holds itself to the standards of AMS accreditation and which engages in ongoing self-study and improvement. These things are validated by an objective team of nationally recognized Montessori leaders. SSMA is one of only 11 accredited Montessori public charter schools in the United States.
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools- Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) - www.msa-cess.org
SMSA-CESS accredits PreK-12 public, private, parochial, charter, non-degree-granting career and technical post-secondary institutions, special purpose schools, supplementary education centers, learning services providers, and distance education institutions.
