Policies

In order to protect the rights of students, Montessori Live will fulfill the following responsibilities to:

1. Admissions
   1. Provide written policies on admission
   2. Provide prospective students with adequate and complete information on all aspects of the program, including personal contact with staff, access to sample courses facilitated by the program, and visits to the Montessori Live physical
   3. Montessori Live does not guarantee job
2. Advertising and Marketing
   1. Maintain advertising and marketing policies that portray Montessori Live reliably, truthfully, and accurately.

3. Academic Programming
   1. Maintain a level of quality consistent with our Mission Statement as well as the purposes and objectives of our
   2. Award credit where it is due, maintain clear written policies on acceptance of credit from other institutions, and provide transcript information to other institutions when requested by individual
   3. Provide fair and reasonable academic evaluation, with grades and assessments that are meaningful, timely, and based on quality of student performance; to maintain transcripts and records; to guarantee confidentiality and student access to
   4. Award certificates when they are merited; to inform students regularly of their academic progress, and award certifications after all stated requirements and tuition payments are
   5. Provide adequate facilities (both physical plant and electronic networking infrastructure) to support academic goals for residency
   6. Offer quality instruction by means of faculty members possessing appropriate credentials and/or experience, who are well-prepared and current in their fields, meet class schedules on time, and are available to students upon reasonable notice outside of posted course
   7. Describe course requirements in clear, specific, and accurate terms; to ensure that requirements are educationally meaningful and relevant to our stated purposes and
   8. Offer courses compatible with published descriptions on our website, in our marketing material, and our Student
   9. Embrace and respect the principle of academic honesty and professional
   10. Maintain written policies for dismissal, to publish causes for dismissal in clear and specific form, and to dismiss a student only for appropriate causes with due

4. Financial Arrangements
   1. Provide complete and accurate information on the full cost of the training
   2. Maintain and employ fair and accurate refund policies and to provide written information on such policies.
   3. Charge fair and reasonable fees for damage to equipment or non-return of
   4. Maintain complete and accurate financial records for each
   5. Make reasonable tuition increases and provide notice of increases; to inform students about financial instability in the event such a condition should

5. Recordkeeping
   1. Maintain a cumulative record of a participant’s assessments.

Montessori Live strives to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Commitment to those standards is the responsibility of every student, faculty, and staff member of Montessori Live. Failure to comply with this policy may result in expulsion from the program at the sole discretion of Montessori Live administration.

Cheating is defined as using unauthorized material or receiving unauthorized assistance from any source other than Montessori Live’s course resources OR submitting assignments that are dependent on particular course components (such as video resources, lesson plans, or textbooks) without using or including those resources. An example includes posting a reflection to the forum using information gained from other student’s posts without first viewing Montessori Live videos lectures, manuals, or materials.

Plagiarism is defined as using another’s words, ideas, or expressions without appropriate acknowledgment. Examples include quoting from a source but failing to document any unique ideas or quotes from that source or fabricating or inventing sources.

The online component of our program depends on students viewing video lessons and lectures as well as other assignments and resources posted for each week of a course. Students are expected to see and complete all of these resources every week to pass each online module. Students must also post to daily discussion forums and submit other assignments as requested by instructors. All work must be original and not copied from other resources without proper citation.

Montessori Live can track a student’s progress through our course management system (Moodle). If it becomes evident that a student is attempting to complete our coursework without viewing these resources substantially and thoroughly, the student may be required to either repeat the module or be expelled from the program at the sole discretion of Montessori Live administration.

Evaluation of progress in Montessori Live is an ongoing “real-time” process that allows students to receive feedback and results in a timely and accurate manner. Through the utilization of the course management system, grades for assignment submissions, reports, etc. are entered directly into each student’s record. In addition to using the grades function in Moodle, grade entry data is also backed up in the Campus Café Student Services software program. Students can access his or her program criteria and grade status through the Student Services software.

Once an educator submits a grade for an assignment, the grade is automatically posted prominently on both the assignment page and the Student portal of Campus Café. Once points and requirements are met for course completion, the registrar will send an official Montessori Live Certificate endorsed by the registrar, the instructor, or an authorized representative of Montessori Live.

PAYMENT of COURSES

Montessori Live has a pay-as-you-go policy.  To be enrolled in a course all students must pay upon enrollment. Funds must be cleared before a student will be admitted into a course. The Montessori Live refund policy applies when applicable. Montessori Live does NOT provide Financial Aid at this time and is not eligible for FAFSA or State Financial Aid. For institutions/districts paying for participant tuition see the Registration Procedures & Information section of this handbook.

Payment Option Within the United States of America

• Credit Cards – Montessori Live only accepts credit card payments through PayPal via our website during registration. All payments must be issued in US dollars.
• Personal Checks – Montessori Live accepts personal checks. One method of receiving these funds is also through Paypal.com. Students will not be permitted to enter the course until the check has cleared.

International Payment Options

• Wire Transfers – For incoming wire transfers: Request information from Registrar
• Montessori Live only accepts funds in US dollars.
• Montessori Live accepts certified checks and money orders from all international banks as well as Western Union and American Express.

REFUNDS and WITHDRAWALS

The program application and registration fees are non-refundable.  This refund policy covers only courses offered by Montessori Live. If a student wishes to withdraw from a course, s/he is to contact the Registrar. The Registrar’s office will immediately issue any eligible refunds. 

The timetable for withdrawals and applicable refunds:

• Last Day to withdraw with a full refund – Last business day before the start of the course
• Last Day to withdraw with 75% refund – One week after the start of the course
• Last Day to withdraw with 50% refund – Two weeks after start of the course
• Withdrawals after week two will not be refunded

In the event the student drops or withdraws OR the program withdraws the student due to lack of participation, no refund will be disbursed or applied to other courses after two weeks following the start date of class.  At the sole discretion of Program administration, students may have the option of retaking the same course the next time it is offered.  Students may be enrolled in a different course depending on minimum enrollment.  Refunds will not be given for courses rescheduled as a result.

If a student does not complete all practicum requirements by August 1, they will be auto-enrolled into the next practicum course for a reduced fee.  An additional fee will charged if the practicum requirements (other than completing online curriculum or residency courses) are not completed by August 1, which is the official end date of the practicum experience.  Students will not receive a final grade and credit for the practicum until all requirements are completed. 

Registration fees for our teacher certification programs are non-refundable.

Schools that sponsor faculty in our program must complete the School Sponsor Verification Form to verify agreement to pay either full or partial tuition for each participant.  This form requires the Head of School to provide a detailed plan for payment of tuition.  Montessori Live reserves the right to discontinue participation of any adult learner who has an outstanding balance by the end of the online course in which they are currently enrolled.  Adult learners will not receive a final grade or a completion certificate until their account is up to date.  All in-residence courses must be paid 10-days prior to the start of the residency.

Montessori Live reserves the right to cancel courses with low enrollment. If a cancellation does occur, a student will be granted a full refund for the course. The student will also be allowed the option to register for a different class that to transfer the original charge towards such enrollment. If the program cancels a course, the student will have the followed options:

1. 100% refund within 30 days
2. The option to be placed in a different course
3. The option to be placed in a different or same course in the upcoming cohort

Montessori Live accepts transfer credit from other programs on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credits issued from other MACTE accredited programs or universities geared toward Montessori education are acceptable at the sole discretion of Montessori Live.

The registrar will evaluate partial transcripts and course completion certificates submitted for transfer credit based on the number of hours satisfied for each area of the curriculum. Albums and portfolios will also be reviewed for adult learners requesting completion of a partially completed program. Students seeking full credit for previous Elementary I certification must provide Montessori Live with a copy of a MACTE accredited certificate or diploma as well as final transcripts that verify satisfied hours of instructions as well as descriptions of curriculum content.

No part of the practicum phase may be satisfied by previous academic work, practicums, or life experience unless the adult learner is transferring directly from one MACTE accredited training program into another MACTE accredited training program with no time gap in the training. All approved transfer credits will count toward program completion from Montessori Live. Montessori Live reserves sole discretion to determine what is approved from other programs.

Log-in information:

Communications from Montessori Live

Required Specifications:

Content May Not be Downloaded or Copied:

Attribution and Citations:

Montessori Live does not discriminate by race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion or any other characteristic protected by state, local or federal law, in our programs and activities. Montessori Live is a private school which directly receives no public or government funds. It provides flexible distance-based and face-to-face residency programs for qualified adults pursuing Montessori educational, professional advancement and certifications.

Montessori Live is a registered 501(c)(3) corporation and accepts charitable donations. “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA OR ONLINE AT www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com, and REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” REGISTRATION #: CH53972.

Acceptance and acknowledgment of this handbook shall also constitute acceptance and consent to the following:

The unrestricted use, publication, display and reproduction by Montessori Live Educator Training Program, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, and its successors and assigns (“Montessori Live”), in perpetuity, of any and all video and/or audio recordings of any lecture or presentation which has been taken of me during my employment and/or engagement with Montessori Live.  Consent to and authorize the unrestricted use, publication, display and reproduction by Montessori Live Educator Training Program, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, and its successors and assigns (“Montessori Live”), in perpetuity, of any and all video and/or audio recordings of any lecture or presentation which has been taken of me during my employment and/or engagement with Montessori Live.  I hereby grant Montessori Live permission to use my likeness in photograph(s)/video(s) in any and all of its publications and in any and all other media, including, but not limited to, the Montessori Live Websites, social media, whether now known or hereafter existing, in perpetuity.

Consent to assign and transfer to Montessori Live all right, title, and interest in and to the copyright, including any registrations and copyright applications and any renewals and extensions, in all lectures, video(s) and/or audio recordings, supplemental materials and their underlying copyrights (“Works”).  The Works shall constitute Montessori Live’s property, solely and completely, and Montessori Live may alter, enhance or modify the Works at its sole discretion.  I hereby represent and warrant that I have the right and power to enter into this Lecture Release and Assignment. Montessori Live will use the Works to further the education and training of educators and school leaders in Montessori philosophy and pedagogy.

Permission to use my likeness in a photograph(s)/video(s) in any of its publications and any other media, including, but not limited to, the Montessori Live Websites, social media, whether now known or hereafter existing, in perpetuity.

Montessori Live has all right, title, and interest in and to the copyright, including any registrations and copyright applications and any renewals and extensions, in all lectures, video(s) and audio recordings, supplemental materials and their underlying copyrights (“Works”). The Works shall constitute Montessori Live’s property, wholly and solely, and Montessori Live may alter, enhance or modify the Works at its sole discretion.

By signing the handbook, the signer represents and warrants that (s)he has the right and power to enter into this Release. Montessori Live agrees to use the Works to further the education and training of educators and school leaders in Montessori philosophy and pedagogy.

Students agree that their legal rights shall be governed by Florida law. The courts of Sarasota County, Florida shall have exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any legal action or proceeding arising out of any dispute with Montessori Live, to which the student irrevocably consents.

Students who submitted an online application for enrollment into an accredited program, but who have not yet provided the supporting documentation and paid the required registration fees, are considered professional development until the application is approved and registration fees paid in full.

To comply with MACTE requirements, if an individual begins taking courses for professional development and later wishes to enroll in a certification program, (s), he must complete an online application for admission and submit the required supporting documentation before the conclusion of his or her 2nd (second) online course. Otherwise, the student may be required to repeat coursework. Without a timely transfer that meets MACTE requirements, there is no guarantee that courses completed for professional development credit will transfer toward an accredited program.

To change from professional development to a certification program a student must: 1) re-submit an online application, 2) provide the required supporting documentation, 3) meet all admission requirements, 4) pay the registration fees, and 5) provide evidence of the applicant’s ability to practice in an acceptable Montessori learning environment during the program. Montessori Live will not register the student with MACTE without all required documentation included in the application. A delay in this process could result in some professional development courses not being accepted and late fees.

Montessori Live maintains the privacy of students by following the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights concerning his or her education records.

These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day Montessori Live receives a request for access.
A student should submit to the registrar, Director of Montessori Live, or another appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Montessori Live official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be examined. If the Montessori Live official to whom the request was submitted does not maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the matter should be addressed.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask Montessori Live to amend a record should write the Montessori Live official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the history the student wants to be changed, and specify why it should be altered.

If Montessori Live decides not to amend the record as requested, the official(s) will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before Montessori Live discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
Montessori Live may disclose education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by Montessori Live in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit as its agent to provide a service instead of using Montessori Live and Island Village Montessori Charter School employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the training program. Upon request, Montessori live also discloses education records to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

Montessori Live is not subject to the reporting requirements of IRS Form 1098-T based on the following:

• Montessori Live does not offer courses for academic credit
• Montessori Live is not eligible to participate in the Department of Education’s student aid programs
• For tax reporting purposes use employer identification number 45-3362464

Requirements for Graduation:

1. Satisfactory completion of all online courses as required for each program
2. Satisfactory completion of the Summer Residency as required for each program
3. Satisfactory completion of teaching practicum online course as detailed in the course syllabus AND
– a minimum of 400 teaching hours for early childhood program (120 hours directly working with children)
– a minimum of 520 teaching hours for the elementary programs (120 hours directly working with children)
4. All tuition and registration fees paid