We’ve received thoughtful questions about why the Montessori House operates as a school-year, school-day program rather than a year-round, full-day model. We truly understand that for many working families, extended and year-round care would make logistics easier.

We’ve chosen this structure intentionally because we believe it is more developmentally appropriate for young children and it helps us sustain a high-quality Montessori program long-term. Research on Montessori education shows meaningful benefits for children in areas like academic growth, executive function, and social development when programs are implemented with fidelity and stability. You can read a brief research summary here:

While we are a "school-year, school-day" Preschool for All (PFA) program. We also work hard to support working families:

• We offer up to 9 hours of care per day, four days a week.

• We offer shorter, private-pay summer camps to help bridge summer coverage.

• We accept DHS and ERDC to support families who need additional help bridging the gap.

Our partnership with Preschool for All also makes the Montessori House significantly more affordable than it would be through private tuition alone. Even with PFA support, we recognize that some families still make a financial investment to meet their needed schedule, and we want to be transparent about that reality while continuing to expand access.

We know this model can require sacrifice for some families, and we don’t take that lightly. At the same time, we are proud to partner with PFA to make the core components of a high-quality, research-supported Montessori program more accessible to families in our community, while staying rooted in what we believe best serves young children and the educators who guide them.

Yes. We accept DHS and ERDC (Employment Related Day Care) for families who qualify. We are committed to making Montessori education accessible and will help families navigate available funding options.

Children develop toileting independence at different times, and we understand that families may be at different stages of this process when their child begins school. In a Montessori environment, we support children in developing independence with toileting as part of caring for their bodies.

By around age three, many children are beginning to notice their body’s signals, manage their clothing, and feel motivated to do things “by myself.” When toileting independence has not yet developed, it usually means the child needs a more consistent routine and clear expectations to help build awareness and confidence. This is very common and can be supported with a simple, steady plan.

We also recognize that some children may have developmental delays or Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs)with goals related to toileting. In those situations, we are always willing to collaborate with families and specialists to support each child’s developmental progress in a respectful and supportive way.

Here’s what we recommend:

1. Switch to cotton underwear during the day (both at home and school). Feeling wetness creates body awareness. We will, of course, support your child with any needed changes at school. Pull-ups function like diapers and make learning slower, so we recommend avoiding them during the day whenever possible. If you prefer your child to wear a pull-up to avoid mess, please place the pull-up over the underwear, not instead of it. This allows your child to still feel the sensation of being wet, which is essential for learning.

2. Follow a consistent toileting routine every 2 hours. Rather than asking “Do you need to go?” (which usually leads to “no”), use a simple cue such as: “It’s time to use the toilet.”

3. Keep expectations simple. Each time: walk to the bathroom → pull down pants/underwear → sit briefly → try → wipe, flush, wash hands. Success builds through repetition.

4. Keep responses neutral and calm. Accidents are normal. A supportive script is: “Your pants are wet. Let’s get dry ones.” No pressure and no rewards—just consistency.

5. Choose clothing that supports independence. Elastic-waist pants and simple layers are best. Avoid overalls, tight clothing, or anything complicated to remove.

With a consistent approach at home and school, children usually make significant progress within a week or two, and independence comes steadily after that—it often just takes clarity and routine.

We currently have 50 Preschool for All (PFA) spots across our three Montessori Primary (ages 3–6) classrooms.

All of our preschool spaces are contracted through PFA at this time. Availability each year depends on our PFA enrollment cycle and placement process

Our entire preschool program is currently Preschool for All (PFA). We also have 12 private-pay toddler spots in the Nest, our in-home toddler community. Children that are enrolled at the Nest will automatically receive a PFA continuation-of-care slot for the fall following their 3rd birthday.

At this time, all 50 of our preschool classroom spots are contracted through our Preschool for All (PFA) agreement. Currently, PFA manages all of our preschool enrollment, including placement and eligibility. Because all of our Primary spaces are allocated to PFA, we are not offering separate private-pay preschool spots at this time. 

We renew our PFA contract annually, which means our enrollment structure may evolve over time based on community needs and funding agreements.

For guidance on navigating the PFA application process, please contact PFA at pfa.support@multco.us.

Yes. We offer limited extended care options to support working families.

Current offerings include:

• Early Morning Care: 7:30–9:00am (up to 20 spots available)

• Extended Morning Care: 8:30–9:00am

• After Care: 3:00–4:30pm, Monday–Thursday (up to 18 spots available)

• Drop-In Care based on availability

Please note that we do not offer before or after care services on Fridays.

Extended care spaces are limited and offered based on availability.

This is a great question. Montessori Primary is designed as a three-year cycle (ages 3–6), and the third year is often a meaningful leadership year for children.

Currently, we offer all 50 of our preschool spots through our Preschool for All (PFA) contract.

In recent years, we have not had enough interest to run a kindergarten cohort, as many families choose free public kindergarten options, even if they value continuing in Montessori.

Because we renew our PFA contract annually, we do have flexibility to adjust our enrollment model. If there were strong interest in a kindergarten cohort, we could explore adding private-pay kindergarten spots. That said, we would need a solid group of peers interested in staying in order to offer a developmentally appropriate and socially balanced classroom experience.

We are always happy to have this conversation early so we can assess interest and plan accordingly.

Yes, we provide food at school. We have an in-house chef who prepares fresh meals daily. We serve:

• Morning snack

• Lunch

• Afternoon snack (for children enrolled in aftercare)

Our menu is always vegetarian, and we focus on local, seasonal, whole foods whenever possible. We prioritize ingredients that are minimally processed and come with minimal packaging, aligning with our environmental values and commitment to children’s long-term health.

We source the bulk of our pantry ingredients through Azure Standard, a company known for organic, bulk, and regionally sourced foods. We are also a community drop site for families who wish to place their own Azure orders for local and seasonal bulk items.

We are experienced in accommodating allergies and dietary needs. We regularly provide:

• Dairy-free alternatives

• Gluten-free alternatives

We have been a peanut-free school for many years, previously supporting a child with a severe peanut allergy. Currently, we are able to serve other nuts; however, if a child has a diagnosed allergy to all nuts, we can return to a completely nut-free kitchen to ensure safety.

We are also a honey-free school due to a severe honey allergy within our community.

If your child has a diagnosed allergy, we will:

• Develop an individualized allergy plan

• Follow strict allergy-aware food handling protocols

• Communicate closely with your family to ensure safety and inclusion

We are always happy to meet and discuss your child’s specific needs in detail. (Please see our sample menu below for examples of what we serve.)

Each classroom has a minimum of 30 minutes of outdoor play for every three hours of the school day, which means every child receives a full hour of outdoor time during the 9:00am–3:00pm PFA school day, though most students have closer to 90 minutes. 

We have two outdoor playground spaces, and we intentionally rotate materials and play equipment to keep the experience engaging, developmentally appropriate, and fun. Outdoor time includes opportunities for gross motor movement, imaginative play, social development, and nature exploration.

Our summer program is separate from the school-year contract.

• PFA does not cover summer sessions.

• Summer enrollment is offered to currently enrolled families first.

• Availability depends on staffing and licensing capacity.

We do our best to accommodate current families whenever possible.

Siblings receive priority consideration, but enrollment is not automatically guaranteed. All of our preschool enrollment is administered by Preschool For All.

Each Primary classroom includes approximately:

• 15–20 children

• Two core staff members (Lead Guide and Assistant)

• Additional floating or support staff as needed

Our staffing model ensures safe supervision and strong classroom consistency.

We are proud of the strength and stability of our team. Several members of our core teaching group have been working together for over a decade, creating deep collaboration, shared vision, and consistency for children and families.

We have a strong group of experienced leaders and highly qualified staff, and we are equally committed to mentoring and nurturing incoming educators as they develop into Montessori Guides. Through intentional coaching and professional development, we grow our own leaders from within whenever possible.

We prioritize:

• Ongoing professional development

• Supportive and responsive leadership

• Sustainable workloads

• A collaborative, respectful community culture

Children thrive in environments where the adults are steady and connected. We intentionally cultivate a workplace where educators feel valued, supported, and inspired to stay.  Meet our team!

Yes. We provide a morning snack, a family-style vegetarian lunch, and an afternoon snack each day for aftercare students.

Lunch is served family-style in the classroom. Children and teachers sit together at the table and share the meal from common serving dishes. Children are encouraged to serve themselves, pour their own water, and participate in setting and clearing the table, with guidance from staff as needed. This approach supports independence, fine motor development, social skills, and grace and courtesy. Mealtime is calm and unhurried, giving children the opportunity to enjoy nutritious food while connecting with peers and teachers.

Our snack menu includes wholesome options from at least two food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, or proteins) and meets USDA guidelines. We prioritize locally sourced and seasonal foods when possible and are mindful about sustainability by purchasing in bulk and minimizing excess packaging.

The weekly menu is posted each Monday at drop-off locations and on the home page of Transparent Classroom.

Please communicate any allergies or dietary sensitivities. We are typically able to offer dairy-free and gluten-free alternatives, though in some cases we may request that families provide substitutions. Due to student and staff allergies, we do not serve tree nuts or honey.

We understand that many young children are selective eaters. Policies vary by classroom and allergy considerations. In most cases:

• We encourage children to try school-provided food

• If needed, we may create a plan together

• In certain circumstances, families may send approved alternative foods

We approach food gently and respectfully, never forcing children to eat but trying to support expansion in food preferences.