National Board Certification

For You?

And for You in the 2008 – 2009 School Year?

Website: http://www.nbpts.org

Toll-free: 1-800-22TEACH

Current as of November 20, 2007

First Things First

• There is a certificate that matches your teaching assignment?

and

• You meet the eligibility criteria?

Have you determined if …

Pre-Candidacy Support

• The success rate of candidates has increased since NBC Boot Camp began.

• The success rate for the 2006 – 2007 candidates is the highest ever for Delaware and exceeds the national average.

• This year, we have expanded our pre-candidacy requirements.

Requirements for

DOE Financial Assistance and Support

• Attendance at one Awareness Meeting

• Participation in all three Pre-Candidacy Workshops (Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 8)

• Completion of work after the Pre-Candidacy Workshops

• Participation in the full session of NBC Boot Camp (July 29-31)

DOE Financial Assistance and

Support

• The preceding requirements apply to those interested in DOE financial assistance for first-time assessment fees and/or for retake assessment fees and all other support services.

• The preceding requirements also apply to self-paying candidates who want a DOE-supported NBCT facilitator and all other DOE support services.

Financial & Other Assistance

• Some districts offer financial assistance or reimbursement.

• Some districts offer other forms of assistance, such as professional development days, reimbursing for shipping the portfolio, access to laptop computers.

Assessment Fees

• Has been $2,500 with the initial $500 being non- refundable.

• $65 application fee, also non-refundable• For the past years, DOE has had a loan

program to assist with the assessment fee.

• The Dept. of Veterans Affairs offers financial assistance to eligible veterans.

• The NEA and AFT offer loans to members.

Application Procedure

• The applications for DOE financial assistance, Pre-Candidacy Workshops, and NBC Boot Camp will be on the DOE website.

• Follow the directions.• Prospective candidates may wait until

the completion of NBC Boot Camp before making a decision about candidacy.

What is Going on in Your Life?

• Working• Other school responsibilities; grading

papers• Spending time with significant others,

family & friends• Religious commitments• Exercising, hobbies, vacations• Sleeping• ??????????

What is a Typical Week for You?

• Quickly sketch out a typical week.

• Be honest and comprehensive!

• Include the lot: all work related activities as well as commuting time, preparing meals, household responsibilities, child care responsibilities, television viewing, communicating with those important to you (e-mail, telephone) ….

What Changes Can You Make?

• To whom are you going to tell “No”?• What can you give up?

• What can come off the plate?• Are you prepared to make difficult

decisions?

Why ask these questions?

Here is Your NBPTS Portfolio!

Estimated time to complete the entries: 200 – 400+ hours

• This is AT LEAST 26 to 53 full-time work days (based on a 7.5 hour day).

• For the past several years, the portfolio is due to the NBPTS on or before March 31.

• How are YOU going to find the time?

Portfolio Preparation

• Attend the Pre-Candidacy Workshops.• Attend Boot Camp.• Study the NBPTS standards (80 – 100

pages).• Carefully read ALL of the portfolio

information and directions (220+ pages).• Understand the scoring criteria (75+

pages).• Carefully look at your projected 2008 -

2009 calendar.

Portfolio Requirements

4 Portfolio Entries

• Three entries are school or classroom-based and include videos (usually 2) that give teachers the opportunity to present a sample of their actual educational practice over a specified time period. One entry usually focuses on student learning over time.

Portfolio Requirements

• One entry documents:– A teacher’s communication with

students’ families and the community– The teacher’s development as a

learner and as a leader/collaborator.

• Everything in this entry has to contribute to student learning.

And Next is the Assessment Center

Six 30-minute prompts

• The assessments examine knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the NBPTS standards and across the entire age range of your NBPTS certificate area.

• The assessments are computer administered; no handwriting allowed.

• There is a strong emphasis on content knowledge.

Assessment Center

• Preparation is crucial for success.• The window typically has been from July

1 to June 15.• Wait until your portfolio is completed and

shipped and you have completed your study plan before you take the assessment center exercises.

• However, make your appointment early.• Your assessment fee must be paid in full

to schedule the appointment.

How Does the NBPTS Make the

Certification Decision?

• Classroom teachers (or school counselors) score the portfolio entries and assessment center responses.

• The NBPTS provides rigorous training.• The assessors use the same scoring

criteria available to candidates.• Each portfolio entry/assessment center

response goes to different scoring centers across the US and each is scored by a different assessor.

Scoring

• The final score for determining NBPTS certification is a combination of the weighted scores for each entry and each assessment center exercise.

• The portfolio entries have the greatest weight.

• The portfolio contributes about 60% to the total score; the assessment center about 40%.

If the Initial Score Falls Short

• Candidates can retake entries and/or assessments that fall below a pre-specified score point.

• The retake window is the two years immediately following the first year of candidacy.

• The NBC process can take three years; some candidates do not certify within the three years.

• DOE offers financial and support services to those who are eligible.

Important Resources

www.nbpts.org

All available now

• 2007 Guide to National Board (2008 available later)

• NBPTS Standards• Portfolio instructions• Assessment Center information &

orientation• Scoring Guide

And …

• Talk to NBCTs. You can search for NBCTs by district and/or certificate area at the DOE website or at the NBPTS website.

• Candidly discuss your candidacy plans with your family, significant others, teacher partners, other important colleagues. They will go through your candidacy with you.

This is Important, Too …

• Commit to staying in your current assignment and/or NBPTS grade level throughout your candidacy.

• Candidacy may take up to three years.• If you move out of your current

assignment and/or NBPTS grade level, it could be difficult to be successful. You will also be ineligible for DOE financial assistance with retake assessments and other support services.

And Please …

• At no time ask a NBCT or candidate to share his or her portfolio with you; either in its entirety or in any part.

• Likewise, do not ask about or discuss the actual assessment center prompts.

• Doing so is a violation of the NBPTS ethics policy and consequences can be severe.

12% Salary Supplement and

Advanced License

• Pending available State funds, NBCTs receive a 12% salary supplement on their base salary (state share, ~70%) and is valid for the duration of the certificate, 10 years.

• NBCTs receive the Delaware Advanced License, also valid for 10 years.

For More Information …

Contact your friendly DOE

Patricia Bigelow Mary Ellen Kotzpbigelow@doe.k12.de.us mkotz@doe.k12.de.us

302-735-4120