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Is CHML still Montessori?

When we chose CHML, DCPS promised us a Montessori education.1 Comparing the new CHML with what a true Montessori education requires, DCPS broke that promise.

Last updated September 22, 2026

What DCPS promised

Montessori is “a child-centered approach to education” where kids have “the freedom to choose their activities within a structured environment.”2 It is an alternative to a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum.3

When we told DCPS we worried the changes this year broke this promise, DCPS assured us at the September 8 meeting that they remain committed to Montessori:

“no effort to dismantle, eliminate, reduce, or diminish Montessori programming.”

DCPS, September 8 community meeting

But comparing the new CHML with what a true Montessori education requires, DCPS did break its promise. This page shows how in:

  1. A comparison of what Montessori is against the changes, using the standards for a Montessori education of the Association Montessori Internationale, or AMI.4 Maria Montessori founded AMI to help families choose a true Montessori school.5
  2. The Primary schedules before and after DCPS’ changes.

Montessori, the promise, and the changes

Each row compares an AMI standard with what DCPS promised6 and what DCPS did.

What is Montessori, what DCPS promised, what DCPS did, and whether it is Montessori
What is Montessori? What did DCPS promise? What did DCPS do? Is it Montessori?
The approach to educationKids “learn at their own pace, selecting activities that interest them” using the hands-on Montessori materials. A Montessori education.

Replaced the Montessori approach and materials with the DCPS curriculum and materials (at least for math and ELA).

Required that teachers, not kids, direct learning under the new schedule.

 No

The “one-size-fits-all” DCPS curriculum and a schedule where teachers direct learning do not align with the Montessori philosophy.
The scheduleThere are 2 work cycles with no interruptions: a 3-hour morning work cycle and a 2-hour afternoon work cycle. Kids pick what they learn and when. Uninterrupted 1–2 hour work cycles.

Replaced the Montessori schedule with the DCPS schedule, which has no Montessori work cycles. Here’s why:

  • Learning happens in short 30–60 minute periods where the schedule dictates the subjects teachers must teach kids, and when.
  • Primary has a 45-minute period where kids lead learning, but that’s too short for Montessori. Elementary has none.
  • There are many interruptions, like transitions between subjects and breaks for recess and lunch.
 No

Montessori work cycles are several hours of uninterrupted time where kids learn at their own pace using the Montessori materials.
The materialsClassrooms have a full set of Montessori materials used for hands-on learning. Teachers may remove non-Montessori materials, like worksheets.7 Classrooms will have Montessori materials.

Required that teachers use DCPS materials for the DCPS curriculum (like worksheets for Eureka math) over the Montessori materials and approach.

Families report some classrooms do not use Montessori materials, or use them as a reward if there is time.

 No

Kids must use the Montessori materials for its approach to education.
Mixed-age classesClassrooms have kids in different grades so they can learn from each other. They develop leadership and social-emotional skills. Classrooms will have mixed ages.

Kept mixed-age classrooms, but required that teachers use the DCPS curriculum, which is based on grade level.

 Misleading

Mixed-age classes are designed for a Montessori education where kids, not teachers, lead learning. They teach and learn from each other.

Using the DCPS curriculum, how can a teacher teach three grade levels at once?
TeachersA teacher must hold an AMI diploma. MySchoolDC promises teachers will be “AMI-trained and certified.”

On September 29, 2026, DCPS emailed one family that CHML’s “[t]eachers are not required to be Montessori certified.”8

DCPS also replaced at least two AMI-certified Primary teachers with teachers with no AMI certification.

 No

The schedules before and after DCPS’ changes

Before, Primary children had one long morning work cycle, from 8:45 to 11:30, and an afternoon work cycle three days a week. After, the day is divided into short blocks, and the longest “Work Cycle” is 60 minutes.

Before

2025–26 Primary schedule

2025–26 Primary daily schedule, before DCPS’ changes
TimeActivity
8:15–8:45Arrival at Children’s House entrance (2nd St.). Breakfast is served in the hallway café 8:15–8:40. 8:45 welcome and entry to the Casa.
8:45Morning Work Cycle. Children flow independently through self-directed work as [the teacher] offers individual lessons, both inside the casa and on the patio outdoors. Snack is available during this time to all children as they feel hungry.
11:30Gather. Older children: clean-up jobs and lunch set-up. Younger children: bio break and nap set-up. We read and sing together, daily.
11:45Recess
12:15Lunch (on the patio when it is not raining)
1:00PK4 and K: Community Reset (guided meditation, afternoon jobs). PK3: bio break and nap room set-up.
1:15PK4 and K: Afternoon Work Cycle (Mon, Wed, Fri); Inner Core classes (Tue/Thu). PK3: nap.
2:50PK4 and K: end-of-day jobs. PK3: wake up, bio break.
3:00Chapter book read-aloud
3:15Dismissal from classroom patio (G Street)
After

Primary schedule after DCPS’ changes

Primary weekly schedule after DCPS’ changes, Monday through Friday
TimeActivity (Monday–Friday)
8:00–8:40Morning Block (Tuesday: Principal-led M. Collab.)
8:40–9:00Breakfast, Morning Meeting
9:00–10:0060 minutes“Work Cycle 1”: Strong Start ELA/S.S.
10:00–10:30Outdoor Play
10:30–11:00Life Skills and Garden and Plant Life
11:00–12:0060 minutes“Work Cycle 2”: Math/Science
12:00–12:30Lunch – Family Style
12:30–1:30Pre-K Rest 3/4s. Kindergarten: Math and Small Group Literacy.
1:30–2:15“Work Cycle 3”
2:15–3:00Inner Core Specials: Mon: Spanish, HPE 1, Art · Tue: HPE 1, Music, Library · Wed: Art, Spanish, HPE 1 · Thu: Music, Science, HPE 1 · Fri: Library, HPE 1, Science
3:00–3:10Prepare for Home
3:13Dismissal

Keep the promise.

DCPS promised CHML families a Montessori education. Restore the work periods and materials. Protect credentialed Montessori staff.

Support the petition

Sources

  1. For example, see CHML’s MySchoolDC page, where DCPS states that CHML’s mission is to educate children “through the use of the Montessori philosophy and materials,” and CHML’s website, which states CHML “is the only dedicated Montessori school” in DCPS. ↩
  2. AMI/USA, Montessori philosophy. ↩
  3. AMI/USA, Why Montessori. ↩
  4. AMI/USA, AMI standards. ↩
  5. This page relies on the AMI pages cited in sources 2–4 and CHML’s MySchoolDC page. AMI has accredited our Primary program. ↩
  6. Slides 23 and 24 of the September 8 presentation. The recording is on The record. ↩
  7. AMI states that “[m]aterials beyond the scope of the AMI teacher’s training may be considered extraneous with a requirement for them to be removed.” ↩
  8. DCPS email to a CHML family, September 29, 2026 (Appendix A of the families’ handout). ↩