EQUITY 

Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School’s mission is to build a diverse and respectful community of joyfully engaged learners by providing a holistic Montessori environment that supports individual fulfillment, compassion, self-discipline, lifelong learning, and a deep awareness of our responsibility to contribute meaningfully to our world.

Located in the heart of Baltimore City, our school serves 475 students, ages 3 through 8th grade, from 26 Baltimore City zip codes; these students identify as 69% African American, 25% White, 3% Hispanic/Latinx, and 3% Asian or more than one race; approximately 55% of students come from families considered economically disadvantaged.

Diversity is central to our school’s mission and identity; however, enrolling a diverse student body is only a first step toward creating a peaceful and equitable school community. In order to determine how students, families, and staff across demographic groups experience our climate, culture, and learning environments, Baltimore Montessori Public launched an equity audit in September 2018. This rigorous and intensive process identified focus areas and included recommendations to guide next steps.

Currently, the focus of our equity work is twice-monthly workshops and professional development sessions for staff, a facilitated Parent/Caregiver Equity Committee, and the creation of an equity statement through a collaborative writing process across stakeholder groups. This equity statement will provide a shared vision and framework to guide interactions and practices within our school and the broader community.

This step will encourage accountability and ensure our commitment to equity is explicit and remains at the forefront of our work.
Peace Education is at the heart of the Montessori approach to learning, and alongside our efforts to create peace, we must also strive for equity and justice. By fully committing to this critical work, we better equip our community to fulfill the promise of our mission for all our students.