

Montessori Credential Now Recognized
by IDOE
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To all of our Montessori friends and colleagues:
There is a need for quality Montessori teachers across the state of Indiana in both public and private settings. However, there are quality Montessori teachers out there that cannot currently work in public schools without state licensure. We are very proud to announce that UMSI has joined the national effort to get the Montessori teacher credentials recognized by the state for teachers that teach in Montessori classrooms.
As a result of this collaboration, Indiana will have a greater pool of licensed early childhood and elementary generalist teachers who will be able to teach in both traditional and Montessori classroom settings. We are very excited to share this news with the entire Montessori community throughout the State of Indiana.
Sincerely,
Jess Davis
UMSI Board President
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Press Release
February 8, 2018
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MACTE Accredited Program- Add Montessori Endorsement with the IDOE
From the IDOE: Throughout 2017, the Department of Education worked with the United Montessori Schools of Indiana and Montessori-Now to recognize Montessori teacher preparation programs accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and to create an alternative path for Indiana licensure for more early childhood and elementary level teachers. As a result of this collaboration, Indiana will have a greater pool of licensed early childhood and elementary generalist teachers who will be able to teach in both traditional and Montessori classroom settings. Currently MACTE is the only national accreditor in teacher education recognized by the US Department of Education(link is external). The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) will now accept MACTE accreditation in addition to accreditors already recognized by the USDE.
Currently licensed Indiana early childhood and elementary generalist teachers who have completed MACTE accredited programs may apply to have a Montessori endorsement added to their teaching licenses. This endorsement acknowledges the unique Montessori pedagogical training they have completed within the grade coverage and validity of their current teaching licenses. Additionally, individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution who have completed MACTE accredited Montessori teacher training in other states will have a path to apply for Indiana early childhood or elementary generalist licensure upon passage of all required licensure tests.
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For information on adding a Montessori endorsement to an existing Indiana instructional license, Click Here.
Required Documents
All documentation must be provided (uploaded) together in the application. If additional documentation is needed, your application will be returned to you. Applications marked as Additional Documentation Required will be held for 90 days, after which they will be closed. You will be required to apply again and submit another fee.
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Valid CPR certification from an IDOE approved provider https://www.doe.in.gov/licensing/cpr-heimlich-maneuver-aed-certification
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Suicide prevention training certificate https://www.doe.in.gov/licensing/suicide-prevention-training
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Official transcripts for all coursework completed:
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Obtain an official transcript for your own records and upload to the application.
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The signature of the registrar must be visible.
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Unofficial transcripts, diplomas, and grade reports are not accepted.
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Electronic transcripts: ensure the document is not locked, expired, or password protected.
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Paper transcripts: scan each transcript double-sided into one PDF file.
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If the file is over 5 MB, use a PDF compression tool such as smallpdf.com
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Please do not mail transcripts directly.
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If necessary, transcripts can be emailed to transcript@doe.in.gov(link sends e-mail)
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Official score reports for pedagogy and content area assessment tests.
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Copy of Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) certificate.
Licensing Fee Information: Click here.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Click here.
Add Montessori Endorsement
Currently licensed elementary generalist teachers who have completed training accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) may add a Montessori endorsement to their existing elementary license. The endorsement acknowledges completion of additional Montessori pedagogy training and does not expand the elementary generalist license beyond its current validity and grade coverage.
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Licensed elementary generalist teachers may apply for the addition of a Montessori endorsement to their licenses by submitting required documentation of completion of a MACTE accredited training program.
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No licensure test is required for the Montessori endorsement as it is not an instructional content area and it does not expand the validity or grade coverage of the license to which it is being added.
Required Documents:
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Official certificate showing completion of MACTE accredited Montessori training program.
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Official transcripts showing completion of Montessori Training program.
Licensing Fee Information: Click here.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Click Here.
Add a Content Area by Completion of Coursework and Testing
Content area additions and license renewals can be applied for at the same time if the expiration date of the license is within 90 days. Since both actions will be completed by our office simultaneously, submit one $35 fee.
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Beginning January 16, 2015(link is external) all license additions will require successful completion of the required CORE content test if there is an approved test for the content area, as well as any coursework requirements.
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For more information on the Pearson CORE Assessments you can sign up for their tests at this link http://www.in.nesinc.com/Home.aspx (link is external)
Required Documents:
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Official transcripts if adding with coursework from an out-of-state institution. If coursework was completed at an Indiana college/university, applications will be routed to those institutions for processing.
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If test scores are not available in your LVIS(link is external) profile, upload the official copy of the passing test scores.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
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Log into your LVIS(link is external) account.
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Click on Add Application on the right hand side.
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Click the Addition
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Choose the license you wish to add the content area to.
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Type in the Area you wish to add.
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Click Coursework button.
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Click Next.
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Click Add Recommending Institution Entry.
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Select the State.
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If Indiana, Select the Indiana College/University.
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If out-of-state, type in the name of the college/university.
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Answer the questions. Click Next.
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Upload required documentation, if required. Click Next.
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If you have everything completed, you will be able to Submit Application. If not, you need to fix what is missing. Missing documentation will be in RED.
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Click the link to pay for all pending applications.
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Mark the box under the Pay?
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Fill out all the Billing information.
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Click Review Summary.
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Click box under Refund Policy.
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Click Submit.
Adding with Testing Alone
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Download the PDF file Adding with Testing Alone
Content area additions and license renewals can be applied for at the same time if the expiration is within 90 days. Since both actions will be completed by our office at the simultaneously, submit only one $35 fee.
The seven content areas that require both an approved program of coursework and testing in order to be added to an existing license remain the same. These include:
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Communication Disorders
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Early Childhood Education
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Elementary Education
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English Learners
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Exceptional Needs (Mild Intervention, Intense Intervention, Blind and Low Vision, Deaf and Hard of Hearing);
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Fine Arts content areas (Visual Arts, Vocal and General Music, Instrumental and General Music, and Theater Arts);
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High Ability
For more information on the Pearson CORE Assessments, Click on this Testing Chart - ADDITIONS(link is external) to see what areas can be added via Pearson IN Core Content Area Tests. Sign up for their tests at this link: http://www.in.nesinc.com/Home.aspx(link is external)
***The areas of CTE: Family and Consumer Sciences, CTE: Agriculture, CTE: Business Services & Technology and CTE: Marketing may be added by testing in addition to providing 4,000 hours of documented work experience in this area.
Required Documents:
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If test scores are not available in your LVIS(link is external) profile, upload the official copy of the passing test scores.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
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Log into your LVIS(link is external) account.
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Click on Add Application on the right hand side.
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Click the Addition
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Choose the license you wish to add the content area to.
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Type in the Area you wish to add.
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Click Content Exam to add by testing.
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Click Next.
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Click Next.
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Answer the questions. If requested, upload required documentation and provide description. Click Next.
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Upload the official score report. Click Next.
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If you have everything completed, you will be able to Submit Application. If not, you need to fix what is missing. Missing documentation will be in RED.
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Click the link to pay for all pending applications.
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Mark the box under the Pay?
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Fill out all the Billing information.
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Click Review Summary.
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Click box under Refund Policy.
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Click Submit
You may contact United Montessori Schools of Indiana with any questions about this process or about how we may serve you at umsindiana@gmail.com and visit us on the web at umsindiana.org

