Scholarships

The mission of MNW’s Scholarship Fund is to increase access to Montessori training and to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion in Montessori education.

Scholarship funds come directly from Montessori Northwest donors, partnering schools, and businesses. Learn more about partnering with MNW, or donate today.

Three scholarship opportunities for individuals who have been accepted into any Montessori Northwest training course; applicants must choose one of the three. Priority is given to new applicants into courses currently enrolling. Currently, International Students are ineligible for scholarships.

Eligibility for a Scholarship requires acceptance into a Montessori Northwest teacher training program. Note: Applications to MNW’s diploma courses must be received one month prior to the application due date, March 1st, to allow the admissions team adequate time to review the application and submit it to the scholarship committee. Awards will be announced by May 1st.

Scholarship applications may be submitted starting the first Monday of January each year. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1st.

Montessori Northwest Scholarship Opportunities

MONTESSORI NORTHWEST EQUITY IN EDUCATION FUND
Increases the representation of people of the global majority in Montessori education, by encouraging applicants of color who are underrepresented in Montessori teacher training; awards are $1,000 - $4,000. Priority consideration is given to individuals who:

  • are Asian, Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, or Asian Pacific American

  • demonstrate financial need

MONTESSORI NORTHWEST LEARNING TO LEADING FUND
Tuition assistance to qualified applicants from Montessori programs that are actively serving communities in need; awards range from $500 - $3,000. Priority consideration is given to individuals who:

  • demonstrate two years of past employment in a public or tuition-free program in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, or Montana

  • demonstrate a commitment for continued employment in a public or tuition-free program in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, or Montana

  • demonstrate financial need

MONTESSORI NORTHWEST EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT FUND
Tuition assistance to applicants currently working with children and dedicated to serving children in the future; awards range from $500 - $3,000. Priority consideration given to:

  • Classroom assistants in a Montessori classroom

  • Teachers who have a non-AMI Montessori diploma

  • Teachers in a traditional education setting

  • Teachers who hold an AMI diploma and would like AMI training at another level

  • Individuals with a work history demonstrating their dedication to serving children

  • Those who demonstrate financial need

“A scholarship can make a huge difference in the life of a student, sometimes determining if the student can do the course or not. From my training, I have gained a lot of knowledge as well as a new way of looking at the world in general. It has bee…

“A scholarship can make a huge difference in the life of a student, sometimes determining if the student can do the course or not. From my training, I have gained a lot of knowledge as well as a new way of looking at the world in general. It has been a transformative experience that I would 100% recommend.”

— Goretti Barton, MNW Scholarship recipient

Montessori Northwest Scholarship Application Information

The due date for Scholarship applications is April 1st each year. Scholarship applications are accepted on the first Monday of January through April 1st. Applications will be reviewed in the order received.

To apply, you must first be accepted into a Montessori Northwest training course. Priority is given to new applicants into courses currently enrolling.

All applicants must submit the following:

  • Montessori Northwest Scholarship Application

    • The same application form is submitted to all three scholarship funds; applicants can only apply to one of the three

    • Specify the scholarship to which you are applying

  • Proof of income for 2 recent consecutive years (Tax Returns or Tax Account Transcript accepted) - used to determine financial need

  • Form 8821 with section 1, section 3 (b and c), and section 7 completed

If you have any questions about Montessori Northwest scholarships, please contact us.

Montessori Northwest Scholarships are made possible through contributions from alumni, the Montessori community, and other valued supporters. Please join us in our effort, donate today.

“The scholarship helped me feel I was recognized and included in the MNW community. From the training I gained not only the way to aid children's development but also learned how to be better myself. The 10 months training for me is a key …

“The scholarship helped me feel I was recognized and included in the MNW community. From the training I gained not only the way to aid children's development but also learned how to be better myself. The 10 months training for me is a key to Montessori education and the whole world.”

— Feifei Wang, MNW Scholarship recipient

Other Scholarship Opportunities

"The MES award was an incredible benefit to my AMI Montessori primary training experience. As a young professional with undergraduate student loans, it was a difficult decision to leave a steady income to follow my passion of becoming a Montessori e…

"The MES award was an incredible benefit to my AMI Montessori primary training experience. As a young professional with undergraduate student loans, it was a difficult decision to leave a steady income to follow my passion of becoming a Montessori educator. The MES award greatly lessened the burden of being without a secure income for 9 months. Thank you so very much!"

— Montessori Northwest graduate and recipient of the Margaret E. Stephenson Scholarship

BLACK MONTESSORI EDUCATION FUND
Rapid Response Scholarship
The Black Montessori Education Fund (BMEF) believes that education has the power to positively transform lives.  Historically, within the African-American community, education was seen as a vehicle for liberation.  The BMEF envisions an educational approach that places value on the racial, cultural, economic and spiritual background of all and seeks to support the holistic development of each individual to their fullest potential. Learn more on the BMEF website.

MES FUND
AMI/USA established this fund in honor of Margaret Elizabeth Stephenson, who devoted her life to AMI teacher training in the United States. Awards administered by AMI/USA are up to $5000. Eligible applicants must be US Citizens or residents, demonstrate financial need, and already be accepted in an AMI training course. In 2017, $56,000 was dispersed among 18 students. 

MES Deadline: May 1st of each year for both summer and academic year courses. Check the AMI/USA website for the most up-to-date information. 

PRIDE FOUNDATION
Pride Foundation’s scholarship program is committed to supporting LGBTQ and allied students that:

  • Show leadership potential either within the LGBTQ community and/or within their field of study

  • Lack a broader LGBTQ community support system

  • Face additional barriers to educational access, including students who are economically, racially, socially, geographically, or politically disenfranchised.

  • Demonstrate significant financial need

  • Applicants must be a resident of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington but may study elsewhere. Applicants are considered a resident of one of these states if they:

    • Currently, live within that state and have done so for at least three months prior to the application deadline

    • Have lived within that state for at least one year at any time within the five years prior to the application deadline

Scholarship applications are completed online through the Pride Foundation or the GSBA Scholarship Fund; please check the website for the most up-to-date information.