What a week it’s been! From the excitement of a new school opening its doors in Florida to vital conversations about leadership happening in D.C., the community is buzzing with energy. It feels like a moment of real growth, with new grants supporting our schools and everyone gearing up for the year ahead. Let’s dive into what’s been happening.
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New Montessori School Opens in Belleview, Florida
A husband-and-wife team with decades of Montessori experience has officially opened the Belleview Montessori School. The school, which celebrated its grand opening on August 2, will serve children ages two through five, focusing on building a strong foundation through child-led discovery and hands-on learning. The founders, who previously managed three schools in New York, are bringing their passion for early education and the Montessori method to the Marion County community.
Published: July 30, 2025
Belleview Montessori School to open Aug. 2, offering hands-on learning for ages 2–5 - 352today -
North Carolina Becomes First State to Opt-In to Federal School Choice Program
In a significant policy development, North Carolina has passed legislation to join the federal Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). This makes it the first state to opt into the program, which provides tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. These scholarships can help families cover costs for private school tuition, special education services, and other educational expenses, potentially expanding access to private Montessori schools for more students.
Published: August 4, 2025
North Carolina leads US in joining federal school choice program: Here's how low-income students benefit - Times of India -
Connecticut Montessori School Receives Community Foundation Grant
Elm City Montessori School in New Haven, Connecticut, was awarded a $20,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. The grant is part of a larger $2.8 million initiative to support local nonprofits, with a special focus this year on organizations impacted by federal policy changes and funding cuts. This award highlights the vital role that local philanthropy plays in sustaining and strengthening Montessori education within our communities.
Published: August 4, 2025
Community Foundation For Greater New Haven Awards $2.8M To Local Nonprofits | New Haven, CT Patch -
As Summer Winds Down, Districts Share Back-to-School Health Reminders
With the new school year just around the corner, school districts are reminding families to schedule their children’s health-related appointments. The Albany School District, for example, published a reminder on August 1, encouraging parents to use the month of August to take care of any necessary check-ups or immunizations. It’s a practical nudge for all of us to get ready for a healthy and happy start to the school year.
Published: August 1, 2025
Important health reminders for September | Schools
Tools & Tips
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Mapping Montessori to AI Competencies
A fascinating new book, “Mapping Montessori Materials for AI Competency Development” by Kate Broughton, offers a framework for how our traditional materials foster skills like computational thinking and data literacy. It’s a powerful tool for articulating the modern relevance of our work.
Mapping Montessori Materials for AI Competency Development -
Visual Thinking Strategies Workshop
The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) is hosting a one-day intensive on August 13 called “Visual Thinking Strategies.” The workshop explores a Montessori-friendly technique that uses art to support critical thinking and language development.
Professional Learning - National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector
Fun Fact
Did you know that Maria Montessori used coffee beans to teach children mathematical concepts? This creative, hands-on approach showed her belief that even abstract ideas could be made tangible and engaging for young minds, a principle that remains at the heart of our work today.
We’d love to hear from you!
Have you participated in any Montessori events or utilized new Montessori tools recently? Share your experiences or insights with us—we’re featuring selected community voices in next week’s edition.