MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) is an autonomous, international, nonprofit postsecondary accrediting agency for Montessori teacher education institutions and programs. The MACTE Commission accredits independent institutions which offer comprehensive, certification courses; and programs or departments located within colleges and universities. A Montessori teacher education certification course is defined as postsecondary instruction designed to:

• develop expertise in the educational system designed by Dr. Maria Montessori, including its philosophies, teacher roles and design of curricula and environments;
• assure basic knowledge of child development, including major theorists and contemporary research;
• lead to certification in Montessori teaching with a specified child age range within the period from birth to age 18

MACTE was created in 1991 through a merger of two previous groups: the Accrediting Association for Montessori Teacher Education (AAMTE), an outgrowth of an ad hoc committee of Montessori educators founded in 1987; and the Accreditation Council for Childhood Education Specialist Schools (ACCESS), which began accrediting Montessori teacher education institutions and programs in 1982.

It is of great significance that the MACTE Essential Standards and Criteria, which must be implemented in order for an institution or program to achieve accreditation, were written through consensus by representatives of all the major professional societies. These included:

• The American Montessori Society (AMS)
• The International Association of Progressive Montessori (IAPM)
• The National Center for Montessori Education (NCME)
• The London Montessori Center (LMC)
• Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI)
• The Pan American Montessori Society (PAMS)
• The Montessori Institute of America (MIA)
• The St. Nicholas Montessori Centers of London and Dublin
  
• Many independent institutions not affiliated with any of the above
  

In connection with its accreditation activities, MACTE is committed to the support of fair practice standards in education; promotion of cooperative activity among participating organizations and institutions; facilitation of the accreditation process for participants; monitoring and research consistent with its activities; provision of public information; and fulfillment of the criteria for recognition published by the U.S. Department of Education.

MACTE was granted initial recognition by the U.S. Department of Education in 1995, and this recognition extends through the year 2013. Consistent with its recognition by the Secretary, MACTE identifies Montessori teacher education programs for the purpose of determining eligibility for student assistance (Title IV funding) and/or participation in other federal programs; and publishes lists of the institutions/programs which conform to MACTE standards and policies.

MACTE is a member of The Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), which represents specialized accrediting agencies in the United States. These agencies operate to ensure that students in accredited programs receive an education consistent with standards for entry into practice or advanced practice in each of their respective fields or disciplines. For more information on ASPA, see www.aspa-usa.org.