Educators who currently hold a valid Initial or Professional certificate in a classroom teaching field(s) are eligible to add Montessori fields based on completion of a Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) accredited program and an appropriate subject area assessment. The following Montessori certification fields are available:
- Montessori Early Childhood (3K-5K)
- Montessori Elementary I (1-3)
- Montessori Elementary II (4-6)
- Montessori Middle Language Arts (6-8)
- Montessori Middle Math (6-8)
- Montessori Middle Science (6-8)
- Montessori Middle Social Studies (6-8)
- Montessori High School (9-12)
Educators must be certified in a classroom teaching field to add Montessori fields to their Initial or Professional certificate.
Adding Montessori Early Childhood
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in Early Childhood Education are eligible to add the field of Montessori Early Childhood by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Primary.
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in a classroom teaching field, who are not certified in Early Childhood Education, are eligible to add the field of Montessori Early Childhood by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Primary and submitting a qualifying score on the current Subject Area Assessment for Early Childhood Education.
Adding Montessori Elementary I
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in the fields of Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education are eligible to add the field of Montessori Elementary I by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Elementary I.
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in a classroom teaching field, who are not certified in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education, are eligible to add the field of Montessori Elementary I by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Elementary I and submitting the qualifying score on the current Subject Area Assessment for either Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.
Adding Montessori Elementary II
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in the field of Elementary Education are eligible to add the field of Montessori Elementary II by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Elementary II.
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in a classroom teaching field, who are not certified in Elementary Education, are eligible to add the field of Montessori Elementary II by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Elementary II and submitting a qualifying score on the current Subject Area Assessment for Elementary Education.
Adding Montessori Middle Level (Language Arts, Math, Science, or Social Studies)
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in a field of Middle Level Education are eligible to add the corresponding field of Montessori Middle Level Education by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Middle.
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in a classroom teaching field, who are not certified in Middle Level Education, are eligible to add a field of Montessori Middle by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Middle and submitting a qualifying score on the current Subject Area Assessment.
Adding Montessori High School
Educators holding an Initial or Professional certificate in a high school certification field are eligible to add the corresponding field of Montessori High School by completing an approved MACTE training program for Montessori Secondary I or Montessori Secondary I-II.
Educators that do not hold an Initial or Professional certificate in a high school certification field are not eligible to add the field of Montessori High School.
Applying
In order to apply for a Montessori field to be added to a valid South Carolina educator certificate, the following materials must be submitted:
- Submit a request using My SC Educator Portal.
- Submit Official Sealed Transcripts (if the program was completed at a college or university)
- Submit official score reports showing successful completion of an approved Subject Area Assessment
- Submit documentation verifying completion of a training program at the appropriate level accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)
