Montgomery’s public Montessori school seeks financial stability

At Crossway Community Montessori School, on a typical morning, adults greet little ones with handshakes. Children covered in aprons wipe down tables, wringing soapy yellow sponges. And students working with mathematical models move to the next learning activity when they choose — not when a teacher tells them. Montgomery County is home to a nationally renowned education system, yet parents have been clamoring for a spot at Crossway, the county’s first and only charter school. It also is the county’s only school that provides a public Montessori education, which encourages students to learn...