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Prepared for the NYSUT Board of Directors & Staff August 2000 BRIEFING BULLETIN: National Board Certification The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards was established in 1987 as a central recommendation of the Carnegie Corporation's report, "A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century." It was designed as an independent, nongovernmental teacher-majority board to improve student learning by setting clear, high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. It develops performance-based assessments for certifying experienced teachers who voluntarily seek recognition for demonstrating achievement of those high standards.
National Board certification represents professional recognition of achievement of the highest standards for teaching. It is developed for teachers by teachers. The National Board standards also provide a strong, sound, teacher-developed framework for the organization and implementation of professional development and improvements in teaching and learning.
Currently, there are 62 teachers in New York State with National Board Certification, and the State Education Department has received 100 applications for the 2000-2001 school year. Components of the Assessment
A teacher must successfully complete several components of an assessment designed to examine talent, skills, and knowledge. These com-ponents include the compilation of a school-site portfolio reflecting various facets of teaching. In addition, the teacher must participate in one day of performance-based activities at an assessment center.
Costs of the Program
The application fee is currently $2,300.
National Board Certificates
The following is a list of certificate titles available for the 2000-2001 school year.
National Board Certification Titles:
National Board Certification and State Certification
National Board certification is not a substitute for the New York State teacher certification requirements. National Board certification represents the achievement of the highest standards of the profession, in contrast to basic state licensure or certification which represents the achievement of entry-level standards which allows a candidate to practice in that profession. Commissioner's Regulations in New York State set the standard for entry into the teaching profession.
Funding Sources
· With NYSUT's strong support, the Legislature and Governor passed into law the Al Shanker National Board Certification program. This program provides $2,500 per teacher to defray costs associated with an application for National Board certification. A total of $1 million has been included in the 2000-01 state budget to fund these grants.
· The State Education Department has also received a federal grant for $159,000 to provide support to teachers seeking National Board certification in the 1999-2000 school year.
State Incentives
A new law titled Teachers for Tomorrow provides for a $10,000 state stipend (per year for up to 3 years) over and above the regular salary to a National Board certified teacher hired to provide services in a low performing school. Additional information is available in Information Bulletin No. 990020 titled Teachers for Tomorrow.
The Board of Regents recently enacted regulations which recognize National Board certification. First, a teacher certified in another state and who has National Board certification will be exempt from having to take the New York State Teacher Certification examinations. Second, a teacher in New York State who achieves National Board certification will be exempt from the requirement of 175 hours of professional development in a five year period needed to maintain his/her certificate.
Local Incentives
A number of districts in New York State are providing incentives to teachers who undertake the National Board certification process and achieve certification. These range from a one-time stipend of $1,000, to $5,000 annual stipends over and above the regular salary for the life of the cer-tificate (10 years). An increasingly common form of incentive is one additional step on the salary scale.
NYSUT urges locals to negotiate financial incentives for teachers to apply for and achieve National Board certification.
For more information on eligibility and additional publications, local leaders should direct their members to contact the National Board at 1-800-22-TEACH . |