What if the most powerful thing Montessori educators could do for children right now isn’t in the classroom, but in the halls of Congress?
Mixed-age groupings. The three-hour work cycle. Observation-based curriculum. Teacher preparation rooted in human development. Everything that makes Montessori transformative deserves to be reflected in the laws, funding streams, and regulations that shape what’s possible for schools and families. But when we’re not at the table, the language gets written without us; and that’s exactly what MPPI is working to change.
In this special live episode, Kelly and I sit down with Denise Monnier and Vyju Kadambi of the Montessori Public Policy Initiative: a two-person organization with advocates in 45 states doing the essential work of making sure Montessori has a voice where it matters most. They’re not waiting for a crisis. They’re building relationships with legislators so public policy includes and uplifts our work in Montessori.
This Thursday, as part of the AMS conference in Washington, D.C., MPPI is leading Montessori on the Move, a day of preparation, storytelling, and over 30 meetings on Capitol Hill. It’s the first time our community has organized something like this at the federal level, and Denise and Vyju want you there! It’s not too late to register. It’s not too late to show up for the afternoon. It’s not too late to be in that group photo on the Capitol steps (and get a cool Montessori hat while you’re at it!).
And if you can’t make it to D.C., this conversation will convince you that advocacy is already something you do, and that the leap from advocating for a child in your classroom to advocating for Montessori in your statehouse is shorter than you think.
You can find MPPI and get connected at MontessoriAdvocacy.org.
See you in DC!
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The traditional education system had its chance.
Now it’s our turn.
