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10/13/2020 • Puerto Rico • COVID-19 and Local Politics

Katherine Miranda Posted On October 14, 2020
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Public Montessori schools in Puerto Rico

Public Montessori schools in Puerto Rico

10/13/2020 • Puerto Rico • COVID cases are soaring in Puerto Rico as the pandemic continues to cripple an already under-resourced and bureaucratic Department of Education (DE) that is largely failing to ensure conditions for successful distance learning, which began on August 17.

The public Montessori network, which consists of 50 schools and is anchored by the non-profit organization Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE), has mobilized to meet a range of student, teacher and school needs, including food security and material distribution.

The 30-year old movement’s long-term stability nevertheless remains compromised. A 2018 law that enshrined a Montessori Secretariat within the DE has still not been operationalized, as the passing of a bylaw necessary to establish the specific processes for the Secretariat within the agency is at a standstill.

The DE’s proposed version was rejected by the community group Montessori para todos, which has drafted its own version to ensure the levels of academic and administrative autonomy necessary for the project’s viability. The group successfully lobbied Governor Wanda Vázquez to order the Secretary of Education to withdraw the proposed bylaw and seek community buy-in. But an administration change is imminent in January, as Vázquez lost primary elections, and it therefore remains to be seen how the DE will proceed with the bylaw. Gubernatorial candidates from all political parties have expressed support of the public Montessori movement, and there will hopefully be more concrete and triumphant news to report after elections.

Read more about Puerto Rico on MontessoriPublic.


Los casos de COVID se disparan en Puerto Rico a medida que la pandemia continúa paralizando el Departamento de Educación (DE). La agencia, que ya enfrentaba problemas burocráticos y una severa falta de recursos, no ha logrado garantizar las condiciones necesarias para proveer una educación a distancia exitosa desde que reiniciaron las clases el 17 de agosto. La red de escuelas públicas Montessori, que cuenta con 50 escuelas encabezadas por la organización sin fines de lucro Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE), se ha movilizado para atender las necesidades de sus estudiantes, maestros y comunidades escolares, entre ellas la seguridad alimentaria y la distribución de materiales.

Sin embargo, el futuro de este movimiento con más de 30 años de trayectoria en Puerto Rico sigue en juego. Aunque una ley de 2018 estableció la creación de la Secretaría Auxiliar de Educación Montessori adscrita al Departamento de Educación, la aprobación de un reglamento requerido para su implementación dentro de la agencia está paralizada. La versión del reglamento propuesta por el DE fue rechazada por el grupo comunitario Montessori para todos, que elaboró su propia versión para asegurar la autonomía académica y administrativa necesaria para que el proyecto sea viable.

El grupo presionó exitosamente a la gobernadora Wanda Vázquez para que ordenara al secretario de Educación retirar el reglamento propuesto y buscar el visto bueno de la comunidad. Sin embargo, ante el inminente cambio de gobierno en enero, debido a la derrota de Vázquez en las primarias, queda por ver cómo procederá el DE con el reglamento. Los candidatos a la gobernación de todos los partidos políticos han expresado su apoyo al movimiento público Montessori, por lo que esperamos tener noticias más concretas y positivas después de las elecciones.

Katherine Miranda
Katherine Miranda

Katherine Miranda has worked in education for over fifteen years, including teaching at the middle school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, and designing and implementing professional development programs.

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