International Montessori Society

The International Montessori Society (IMS) is a Montessori splinter group, with main offices located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Its stated mission is to "provide support for effective practice of Montessori teaching on a worldwide basis." It is not accredited by MACTE, the certifying body of Montessori teacher education.
History
The International Montessori Society was founded in 1979 by Lee Havis based on his discovery of how Montessori teaching can be conducted in a scientific, objective manner to consistently bring about the child’s true normal nature that Maria Montessori discovered in 1907.
In 1982, the International Montessori Society began offering a formal Montessori teacher education program in California, after its approval to operate in the state of Maryland was denied due to philosophical differences with organizations such as the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Association Montessori International These philosophical and organizational disputes have been an integral aspect of the development of Montessori in the United States, especially since about 1960. The IMS teacher education program is presently conducted as a 22-lesson course of study through mail and on-line correspondence.
In 1994, IMS helped establish the International Montessori Accreditation Council (IMAC) to provide a unifying umbrella means for accrediting Montessori teacher education programs throughout the entire spectrum of philosophies in the Montessori community. The IMS Montessori teacher education program holds its accreditation through this IMAC agency.
Programs
IMS recognizes Montessori schools based on their commitment to true natural Montessori teaching in all aspects of their operation. Recognized schools must sign a statement of compliance with these specific written criteria that reflect this commitment. In addition, schools must comply with the requirements of a model discipline policy.
Professional Development
IMS provides and participates in occasional workshops, consultations, seminars, and conferences to present its technology and support effective Montessori teaching with children. In 2006, this technology became available in audio CD with study guide.
Since 1986, IMS has conducted over 150 workshops all over the world. In 2009, IMS collaborated in a two-day International Montessori Conventional in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. IMS also supports an on-line Montessori discussion in a Yahoo Group, intmonsoc, which presently includes some 350 interested participants who are learning about the IMS Montessori technology and philosophy. Teacher education is conducted more formally through a correspondence course accredited by the IMAC accrediting agency.
Accreditation of Montessori Teacher Education
IMS participates in the IMAC accrediting agency as a collaborating organization, to provide accreditation services for Montessori teacher education programs throughout the entire Montessori community. There are two active review committees in this agency, one for IMS courses, and a generic review committee that serves all non-IMS programs.<ref name="intro" />

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