July 2006

National Board Certification®

Awareness Meeting

July 14, 2006

History of National Board for Professional Teaching

Standards (NBPTS)

• Carnegie Foundation report (1986) A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century

• Task Force on teaching as a profession

• Establishment of voluntary, national certification process

Better teaching better learning better schools

Mission StatementTo advance the quality of teaching and learning by:

• maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do;

• providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and

• advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers.

Standards Established by Teachers

• Teachers form the majority of NBPTS Board of Directors.• Teachers form the majority of NBPTS standards

committees.• Teachers work on the NBPTS staff.• Teachers have staff positions with NBPTS contractors.• Teachers score assessment exercises and set

performance standards.

Five Core Propositions

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning.

• Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.

• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.

• Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.

• Teachers are members of learning communities.

Growth of NBPTS in SC

• ~ 4,440 NBCTs (575 in 2005)• ~ 1285 New Candidates (as of July 2006)• ~ 665 Retake Candidates (as of July 2006)

• 3rd highest number of NBCTs in the nation• 2nd highest number of African American NBCTs in the

nation• A National Board Certified Teacher in every school

district in South Carolina!

Student Achievement and NBPTS

• Anecdotal evidence linking NBPTS to student achievement:

• A Distinction That Matters• Goldhaber study

• More than twenty national studies on relationship of NBC and student achievement currently being completed

• Research already shows quality of teaching is number one factor for student learning

Eligibility Prerequisites

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution

• Three years of successful teaching at one or more early childhood, elementary or secondary schools

• Proof of holding a valid state teaching license for each of those three years

Requirements of Process

Teaching Portfolio(current school year)

1 – Student work entry

2 – Video-based entry

3 – Video-based entry

4 – Professional, Families and Community Documented Accomplishments entry

Assessment Center (one day)

5 - prompt (30 minutes)

6 - prompt (30 minutes)

7 - prompt (30 minutes)

8 - prompt (30 minutes)

9 - prompt (30 minutes)

10- prompt (30 minutes)

Scoring

• Evidence-based scoring• Each entry scored by different assessor(s)• Assessors are teachers – same content and

developmental level• Score range for each entry: .75 – 4.25• Weighting: score multiplied by factor from 6.67 – 16 • Uniform constant of 12 points added to each score• Accomplished Teacher must earn at least 275 points and

complete all 10 entries Read NB Scoring Handbook for more information

Banking & Retake

• Automatic banking of each entry score for a period of two years for any entry that meets the standard of 2.75 or above

• Online “retake score calculator” available to candidates (NB site)

• Retake any combination of any entries with a score below 2.75

• Pay $350 fee for each entry retaken

South Carolina Incentives(pending annual legislation)

• Loan for up to $2,500 for assessment fee (forgivable)• Salary Increase of $7,500 for life of certificate

(10 years)• Recertification requirements waived for NBCTs for life

of certificate• Reciprocity for teacher certification granted for NBCTs

moving into South Carolina

Local Incentives and Support

SC school districts may offer one or more of the following:• Additional salary increases• Release time to complete portfolio requirements• Use of technical equipment and resources• Graduate credit courses in collaboration with

colleges/universities• Workshops and Seminars

South Carolina Loan Program

• Candidates pay $65 application fee (non-refundable) directly to NBPTS• this fee is not covered by the SC Loan Program• this is the only fee* a SC teacher needs to pay “out of pocket”

• Borrow up to $2,500 for three years• One half of loan forgiven if a complete/scorable portfolio is submitted• Other half of loan forgiven if certification is achieved within three-year

period allowed by NBPTS• SC loan applications available from CERRA, teacher organizations

(PSTA, SCEA, etc.) and district NB Liaisons• Fees are not reimbursed by CERRA for funds sent to NBPTS by

candidates

*The $500 Initial Fee required by NB is submitted by CERRA when the loan is processed

Assessment Calendar

• SC Loan Available Aug. 1 – Nov. 1, 2006• NB Application Aug. 1 – Nov. 1, 2006

(Without loan: apply from now until Dec. 31, 2006)

• Assessment Center July 1, ’06 - June 15, ‘07• Portfolio Due Mar. 31, 2007• Results Dec. 31, 2007

Additional loan opportunity anticipated for Spring 2007.

Withdrawal

• Read NB withdrawal information and SC NBC Loan application carefully

• NBPTS must be notified in writing by submission of a Withdrawal Form

• Withdrawal Form must be received by NB before submitting entries to NB, before going to the assessment center and before portfolio due date

• $500 initial fee must be repaid to SC (not NBPTS)

• Total assessment fee ($2500) and any additional fees and interest will be owed to SC by the candidate if withdrawal procedures and deadlines are not met.

Read Before Applying

Download (from NB site) and carefully read:• Guide to National Board Certification• NB Scoring Handbook• NB Standards for your area• NB portfolio instructions for your areaWeb pages:• “Become a Candidate” and “For Candidates” sections

on NB site at www.nbpts.org• “NB Candidate” pages in the Teacher Leader section

on CERRA’s site at www.cerra.org

To Help Make the Decision…

• Analyze and reflect upon the time you have to give to this process.

• Determine resources you already have (and ones you need to acquire) to give this your best effort.

• Contact SC NBCTs in your certificate area. • Contact your school district’s NB liaison.• Determine what kind of support may be available

to you in your school, district or region.

SC NBCTs & district liaisons are listed on CERRA’s Web site at www.cerra.org

As a candidate…

• Stay in contact with your district’s NB liaison in order to request the SC NB Loan application and learn about candidate support efforts.

• Meet all established deadlines for paperwork and submit pieces in a timely fashion in order to choose the best window of opportunity for yourself.

• Visit the NBPTS and CERRA Web sites regularly to stay updated on new developments and information regarding the process.

Questions Candidates Should Ask NBCTs

• How has NBC changed the way you approach your

work with students?

• What resources supported your work as a candidate?

• What is the one thing you would NOT do if you were

to go through this process again?

• What is the one thing you WOULD do if you were to

go through this process again?

More Information

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

www.nbpts.org

1-800-22-TEACH

CERRA www.cerra.org

1-800-476-2387

School District Liaison