Financial Aid Opportunities

1. The MES Fund

AMI/USA established the MES FUND, INC., the first financial aid fund to benefit AMI teacher trainees, in honor of Margaret Elizabeth Stephenson, who devoted her life to AMI teacher training in the United States. The fund, which is administered and supported by AMI/USA, honors her legacy and extends her contribution to touch future teachers.

The fund awards partial scholarships in the form of tuition reduction towards AMI training in the United States to selected students. AMI/USA hopes, through their support of this fund, to ensure that qualified individuals seeking AMI training will be able to pursue that dream, regardless of their financial circumstances.

MES Fund Eligibility

Applicants who are U.S citizens or permanent U.S. residents and are planning to attend an AMI training center in the United States are eligible to apply.

Applicants to both academic year and summer courses are eligible.

Applicants must have a demonstrated financial need as evaluated by the College Board Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid Profile.

Students who have already commenced training are not eligible to apply.

Applying for an award will not affect a student’s prospect for admission at an AMI training center.

Priority consideration is given to applicants who:

• hold a college degree
• have worked in an AMI school
• plan to teach in an AMI school immediately following training
• are assistants in an AMI school

MES Application Process Step-by-Step Instructions

• Complete the MES Fund application and the required essays
• Register with the College Board Scholarship Service (CSS)  and complete the Financial Aid Profile. There is a minimal fee assessed by the College Board to complete the Financial Aid Profile.
• You must include the MES Fund, Inc. College Board ID Code (0186) when completing the Financial Aid Profile.
• After you complete the Financial Aid Profile you will receive an “acknowledgment” from CSS with a computerized printout of the information submitted. This is your proof that you have completed this process; keep this copy for your records.
• Enroll in an AMI training program. (This is a separate step from applying for financial aid.)

MES Application Deadline

May 1st of the year your coursework begins both summer and academic course formats.

Application Checklist:

• MES Fund application and essays
• CSS Financial Aid Profile (2013 – 2014 version)
• Enrollment in an AMI course (enrollment will be confirmed by AMI/USA)

All of the above must be submitted electronically by the deadline; no extensions will be granted.

Neither AMI/USA nor the MES Fund, Inc. is responsible for misdirected applications.

MES Selection Process

The MES Fund, Inc. Financial Aid Committee adheres to recommendations and guidelines of the College Board Scholarship Service (CSS), a division of College Board. College Board is an educational services institution that offers a variety of programs and services to assist colleges, universities, and scholarship programs in the equitable distribution of financial aid.

Utilizing CSS reports, the committee reviews the following for each applicant:

• Taxable and non-taxable income
• Assets
• Number and ages of dependents
• Number of family members attending tuition-based schools and colleges
• Outstanding debts and obligations
• U.S. citizenship

An individual’s demonstrated financial need does not guarantee that he or she will be awarded aid.

MES Award Notification

The MES Fund, Inc. Financial Aid Committee will review applications and notify individuals of their application status within eight weeks of the application deadline.

2. School Sponsorship

Some AMI recognized schools participate in sponsoring trainees. Sponsorship guidelines vary by school.

Participating Schools:
CA | Bergamo Montessori Schools
CA | Meher Montessori Schools
CT | The Cobb School, Montessori
FL | The Montessori Children’s House of Hyde Park
IL | Joliet Montessori School
MA | Adams Montessori School
NM | Montessori ONE Preschool Academy
SD | The Baan Dek Montessori
TX | Cedar Park Montessori School
TX | Sapientia Montessori School

Please review the most updated list (updated every fall for training courses beginning the following year)

This list includes the specific offerings by each school. For complete details, contact the school of interest directly.
Note the education levels listed on the website do not indicate AMI recognition status; they are levels available for instruction or that the school is currently seeking to sponsor. For AMI recognition specifications click here.

3. Loan Options

Some AMI recognized schools offer loan options for trainees. Check with each training center for their loan offerings.

Donations

Click here to contribute to the MES fund.