Montessori Makers Residency
Tuition & Payment Options
MMR is priced significantly below traditional Montessori credentialing, and structured with payment plans that work for working educators. The Tuition Access Program offers waived tuition for the educators who face the highest structural barriers.
Tuition by Track
Two credential tracks. One price philosophy.
Both tracks are available as pay-in-full or payment plan. All amounts listed are total program tuition. There are no hidden fees, enrollment deposits, or material surcharges.
Primary Credential
Primary Track (3–6)
9-month program · 224 lessons · 7 strands
Pay in Full
$5,000
Total program tuition
Payment Plan
Over 12 months, no interest
Includes full access to all 224 structured lessons across Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Theory, Behavior Support, and Elementary Bridge.
Elementary Credential
Elementary Track (6–12)
12-month program · 325 lessons · 11 strands
Pay in Full
$7,000
Total program tuition
Payment Plan
Over 16 months, no interest
Includes full access to all 325 lessons across Geography, Biology, History, Language, Mathematics, Geometry, Art, Music, Theory, Behavior Support, and Primary Foundation.
Tuition Access Program
Waived tuition for the educators who face the highest barriers.
The Tuition Access Program is not a separate application. Every qualified applicant is automatically considered. Selected residents have program tuition waived for one track, covering the full credentialing cost. Practicum placement is your responsibility to arrange and finance, the same as for every other resident.
Who qualifies
Educators of color, educators in under-resourced public schools, educators in rural or geographically isolated communities, and first-generation credential seekers. These are not the only paths. They are examples of the structural barriers the program is designed to address.
What is waived
Full program tuition for your chosen track, covering the entire credentialing cost. Access to all program materials. The same cohort experience as every other MMR resident. MMG is not a non-profit, so no scholarship dollars are raised. The program operates by waiving what we charge.
What is not covered
Practicum placement is your responsibility to arrange and finance. MMG cannot provide stipends, host-site payments, or travel reimbursement for your practicum. If practicum costs are a barrier, talk to us about it during application. We will be honest about what is and is not possible.
How to apply
There is no separate application. When you complete the MMR application, you will be asked about financial access barriers. Your answers are reviewed by Hannah directly. Decisions are made on a rolling basis with the same rigor and respect applied to every applicant.
The number of waivers per cohort is intentionally limited so the program stays sustainable for MMG to offer year over year. If you face barriers not named above, say so in your application. The review is built to respond to the actual landscape of who Montessori has excluded, not a fixed checklist.
Payment Plans
Built for working educators. Not lump-sum thinking.
MMR payment plans are interest-free and structured to run alongside a full-time educator salary. You are not being asked to take on debt. You are being asked to invest in your credential on a schedule that works for your actual life.
Payment plans are available for both tracks at the amounts listed above. If your financial situation requires a different arrangement, say so in your application. The payment plan amounts listed are defaults, not requirements.
All payment plans are managed through the MMR platform. Payments are processed automatically unless you request a manual arrangement. You may pay in full at any point during the program without penalty.
Primary (3–6)
9-month program
Pay in Full
$5,000
Monthly Plan
$417 / mo
12 months, no interest
Elementary (6–12)
12-month program
Pay in Full
$7,000
Monthly Plan
$438 / mo
16 months, no interest
Tuition Access Program:Tuition waived for selected residents. Practicum costs remain the resident’s responsibility. Automatically considered with your application.
What Tuition Covers
No surprises. No add-ons.
Tuition covers everything listed below. There are no enrollment fees, no material fees, no platform subscription fees during the program.
Structured Curriculum
Full access to every lesson in your track, organized by strand and week. All lessons are asynchronous and available for life.
Practicum Support
Observation log templates, practicum hour tracking, and guidance on securing and completing your placement.
Theory Strand
The full theoretical foundation: AMI/AMS-aligned, with MMR's equity framework integrated as core content, not as an addendum.
Behavior Support Strand
A full strand on behavior from an equity and neurodivergence lens. Not a module. Not supplemental. Core curriculum.
Science of Reading Integration
Language lessons that include current science of reading research alongside the Montessori reading sequence.
MACTE-Track Pathway
Program structure aligned with MACTE accreditation pathway. Credential recognized across NAMTA-affiliated schools.
Cohort Access
Entry into the MMR cohort Slack, twice-monthly group sessions, and the peer network built through the program.
Tuition Access Review
Automatic consideration for the Tuition Access Program if you indicate financial access barriers in your application.
Hannah Direct
All curriculum written by Hannah Richardson. Questions and application review go to Hannah directly, not a support team.
Pricing Questions
Common questions about tuition.
Can I do both tracks?
Yes. Candidates who complete the Primary track are eligible for the Elementary track at a discounted rate. The Primary Foundation strand in the Elementary curriculum is designed for candidates who have already completed Primary credentialing. Details on the combined track discount are included in your acceptance materials.
Is there an enrollment deposit?
Yes. A small enrollment deposit is required to hold your cohort spot. This deposit is applied to your tuition balance. It is not an additional fee. The deposit amount is listed in your acceptance letter.
What if I can't make the monthly payment one month?
Contact the MMR team before the payment date. We will work with you. Missing a payment does not result in program suspension without prior communication. The payment plan is designed for working educators. We understand what real life looks like.
Does MMR accept employer reimbursement or Title I funds?
Yes. MMR can provide the documentation needed for employer reimbursement programs, professional development stipends, and Title I fund applications. Contact us before enrollment if your school requires pre-approval paperwork.
How does MMR compare in cost to traditional programs?
Traditional MACTE-accredited Montessori credentialing programs typically range from $7,000 to $15,000 in tuition, often with additional fees for materials, observations, and certification exams. MMR is substantially below that range. The curriculum is not abbreviated to reach that price. The cost difference reflects a different mission, not a different depth.
Do I need to own Montessori materials to complete the program?
No. You do not need to purchase materials to complete MMR. The program is built around three pathways to materials access so that every resident works with real Montessori materials, regardless of what they own or where they live. Monthly observation visits include a 60-minute supervised materials session at the host school. Once a year, there is an in-person materials intensive held in a fully equipped Montessori classroom. And for residents who cannot travel, a remote practice option provides materials access without requiring in-person attendance. The annual intensive is billed separately from tuition at $200–$300 per resident. The remote option is included at no additional cost. Every resident completes MMR with genuine hands-on materials experience. That is not optional. It is a program requirement.
What is the annual intensive?
Once per year, MMR residents gather in a fully equipped Montessori classroom for a multi-day in-person intensive. The intensive is organized around hands-on materials work: residents present lessons to each other, receive feedback from a trained guide, and work through the physical sequences that are difficult to approximate at a distance. It is also a cohort experience: the in-person time is designed to deepen the relationships that sustain residents through the rest of the program. The intensive typically runs over a weekend. Exact dates and location are confirmed in your cohort welcome materials. For residents who cannot travel, a remote practice option is available. The remote option is structured to cover the same materials sequences through a combination of video demonstration, guided practice at an observation site, and Cohort Guide check-in. Residents who complete the remote option fulfill the same program requirement as those who attend in person. The intensive is billed separately from tuition at $200–$300 per resident. The remote practice option is available at no additional cost.
Ready to apply?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Cohorts are intentionally small. If you are ready, apply now. If you have questions first, email us.