About AWSNA
School Membership Levels
Developing school membership is for a youthful school with early childhood and grade school programs, which has completed a three-year plan to guide the school in its development. This status gives a school contact with other affiliated schools and with the continental movement. These schools gain strength through association with other schools in their region with help from the materials provided the Association (e.g. the Young Schools' Guide, Effective Practices, and the Path to Membership Handbook, available to affiliated schools) and from a mentoring team assigned from their regional delegates.
Full membership indicates that a school has matured to stand in the world as an example of Waldorf Education. After fulfilling the requirements of the Association as outlined in the Association's Path to Membership Handbook, a school takes part in delegates' meetings for discussion of common goals. Delegates of full member schools also vote on their leadership council representative.
Candidacy membership is for a school that is very close to maturity and s pursuing Full Member status. After working with a mentoring team from its region as a Developing school, a school ready for membership applies for candidacy and, upon acceptance of its application by the regional delegates, chooses a path to membership of either accreditation or AWSNA self-study peer review. After completing its self-study and peer review or accreditation process, the school is recommended to the full delegates' circle by its regional team. The process usually takes three years.
Teacher education centers, dedicated to the training of excellent Waldorf teachers, may be full member, candidacy, or developing status, similarly to schools.
In addition to the many affiliated Waldorf schools and initiatives, there are over 250 early childhood programs working out of the pedagogical insights of Rudolf Steiner. For further information about these Waldorf preschools and kindergartens, please contact:
Waldorf Early Childhood Association
285 Hungry Hollow Road
Spring Valley, NY 10977
845-352-1690
845-352-1695 (fax)
