Community Scholarship Program
Scholarship information
Columbia Montessori School believes that every child deserves a quality education, regardless of resources, race, culture, ethnicity, gender, family, or means. We value the diversity in our community and don’t believe that a lack of income should equate to a lack of opportunity. We strive to meet the needs of our community by making quality education more accessible through a Community Scholarship Program.
The Community Scholarship Program offers a limited number of partial scholarships, based primarily on financial need. Other factors will also be considered including classroom openings, length of commitment to the school, number of siblings in tuition based schools, other financial obligations, availability of tuition assistance funding, and the family's ability to meet academic requirements.
Columbia Montessori School reserves a number of scholarship spots for historically marginalized groups, specifically families that identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We value and celebrate diversity and also acknowledge there have been systematic barriers faced by marginalized communities. We aim to address these barriers and facilitate equitable access to high quality education, by reserving spots for marginalized groups.
In order to provide scholarships for our community and pay a living wage to our teachers, we rely on the strength of our community. To contribute to the Community Scholarship Program, you can make a tax deductible donation directly through our website or by mailing in a check.
Values
The Community Scholarship Program is based on the following values:
We understand the importance of quality early childhood education, and believe that the first 6 years of life have a direct impact on an individual’s success in life.
We believe that we are better when we surround ourselves with a diverse community, from which we gain a stronger understanding of ourselves, others, and our world. We believe diversity enriches life, and helps children develop better communication, empathy, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.
We believe that every child deserves a well-rounded education, and that a child does not deserve less education or opportunities simply because they have less means.
We acknowledge that Maria Montessori developed her method of education while working with impoverished children. We also recognize that the high costs of obtaining quality education today make many Montessori programs unaffordable.
We believe in the power of community, and that together we can accomplish more than we can alone. We believe that we all do better when we all do better, and are committed to meeting the needs of our community.
Eligibility
Columbia Montessori School's Community Scholarship is available for students age 2 and up who are entering our Pre-Primary or Primary programs. Limited scholarships are available based on available funding.
Financial eligibility for the Community Scholarship Program is based on state subsidy income eligibility guidelines for families at 242% or below the federal poverty rate. Families above this may still be considered if there are genuine extenuating circumstances involved.
You can see the federal poverty rates and income limits here: Income Limits