I think we've had this same conversation before, and I was trying not to turn Wren's happy thread into Montessori-bashing, but I'll chime in to back Isa: our school was certified, too.
The fact is, if the teachers don't get it, certification doesn't matter. There were all sorts of great things in DS6's preschool (he was then 4)--including books, naturally--but he wasn't allowed to use any of them until he completed the umpteen pre-reading activities that didn't interest him at all because they were too easy for him.
We finally got the director and teachers to understand, but it was a hard battle, and I'm certainly not recommending that particular school to anyone with GT kids.
Philosophy is nice, but it's practice that really matters! I'm glad the practice at Wren's school is working for her DD.
