Why Is Montessori so Underfunded?

It is not particularly a summer topic, I know. However, a close colleague, a leader of a wonderful school in Vienna, recently asked me this question and it has been on my mind ever since. 

It is a troubling trend. So many Montessori schools and other Montessori organizations I know are struggling with money. They have low enrollment, trouble paying their bills, and difficulty paying their staff. 

At the same time, I hear parents and others complaining that Montessori is expensive. Apparently,  “Montessori education is only for the rich.” But the reality is that Montessori entrepreneurs, guides and trainers are far from being rich. 

This seems like a paradox, or maybe it’s a deeper problem.

Could we blame expensive Montessori materials and costly teacher training? Montessori education requires specialized materials and trained teachers, all of which costs money. Could this be what leads to higher tuition fees, despite schools operating on tight budgets?

How about misconceptions about Montessori?
Many people perceive Montessori as an elite education system meant only for the wealthy. Could this misconception prevent middle- and lower-income families from considering Montessori schools, lowering enrollment, and impacting the school’s finances?

Or the inability of Montessori schools to apply for grant funding? Unlike traditional public schools, Montessori schools, especially private ones, often do not receive government funding, and they don’t apply for grants because they think grants don’t apply to them. This lack of external financial support forces them to rely heavily on tuition fees, which can strain families and the schools alike. Could this be the problem?

How about a lack of financial planning and management skills?
Many Montessori school founders do not have management and business education and experience. Often, they don’t know how to budget, how to set pricing policies, and lack basic financial management and planning knowledge, as they are busy in the midst of day-to-day operations. Could this lead to their financial strain? 

Lack of marketing skills?
Something I see so frequently… So many Montessori schools, training centers, and other Montessori programs struggle with marketing. They don’t know how to effectively communicate offers to their clients. Could this be the reason for the low enrollment and financial difficulties?

Or lack of community support?
The success of a school and other Montessori projects often depends on the support it receives from its community. If a Montessori school or a training center does not have the skill to build a community, could this be the reason for the struggle to get the necessary support and resources?

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED SIMILAR CHALLANGES?

Please, write to me to mirka@amiprague.cz about this if the answer is “yes”. We are considering hosting a Lead Montessori conference this fall and this is one of the potential topics. 

Thank you for staying connected. I truly appreciate all the notes I receive back in reply to my emails to you. 

Many hugs.

Yours truly,

Mirka

PS: Oh, and follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirka.for.montessori/. The Montessori FAQ’s with Dr. Steve Hughes are a hit!