Q&A on National Board Certification

(Also visit www.thesupportnetwork.net)

Interested in the ultimate professional challenge? Looking for an experience that will stretch your skills and invigorate your teaching?

You may want to consider trying for National Board certification. National Board certification is a voluntary system to assess and certify teachers who meet high and rigorous standards. LAUSD proudly lays claim to more than 1,200 NBCTs.

National Board support groups formed in the spring. Read the Q&A below to see if this is your year to go for certification.

What is the National Board?

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards was established in 1987 to advance the teaching profession and to improve student learning.

NB certification is a voluntary system to assess and certify teachers who meet high and rigorous standards. A National Board certificate attests that you have been assessed by your peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning, and acts effectively on these judgments. The National Board certificate does not replace state licensing.

NBPTS has a new program called, Take One! in which participants can take a pre-determined entry and spend time on that one entry for scoring.

What are some of the financial incentives for  achieving certification?

Both the state of California and LAUSD offer financial incentives for members who become NBCTs. The state offers a one-time $20,000 award (paid in annual installments) for NBCTs who agree to teach at least 50 percent of a full-time position in high priority schools for four consecutive years. “High priority” is defined as a school with an API rank of 5 or lower. “Assigned to teach” may include a teacher leadership role, such as peer coach, as long as the position does not require an administrative credential. Please note: This incentive is subject to funding from California’s state budget on a quarterly basis.  LAUSD offers a 15 percent increase in compensation (7.5 percent salary and 7.5 percent for an additional 92 hours of work each year) for classroom teachers. See the LAUSD-UTLA contract for more information.

How do NBCTs impact student learning?

In three recent studies, a link was clearly made between National Board certified teachers and improved students performance.

•  Students of NBCTs did a measurably better job than other ninth- and 10th-graders on year-end math tests in Miami-Dade County public schools, according to research released November 2004.

•  In September 2004, Arizona State University researchers found that students of NBCTs outperformed students of non-NBCTs on the Stanford 9 achievement test, with learning gains equivalent on average to spending more than an extra month in school each year.

• Researchers from the University of Washington and the Urban Institute in March 2004 found that students of NBCTs experienced year-end testing improvements that averaged 7 percent to 15 percent more than peers whose teachers were not NBCTs.

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible to apply if you hold a baccalaureate degree, have taught for a minimum of three years, and have a valid state teaching credential at the time of application. Some certificates may also have specific requirements. The application fee is $2,500. Federal subsidies and other scholarships are available.

What does applying for certification involve?

The process involves two parts: creating a portfolio and taking assessment center exercises. The portfolio is completed in your classroom and contains four different entries. Each entry is accompanied by written commentary (10-12 pages). The assessment center exercises are designed to complement the portfolio. Candidates respond to six prompts during 30-minute blocks of time. Your work for National Board certification can take the better part of the school year. Teachers report spending between 300 and 400 hours on the portfolio and assessment process.

How do I sign up for a support group?

Most LAUSD NB candidates signed up for a support group. Headquartered at UTLA, the Support Network offers participants Saturday seminars on portfolio preparation and work in small, facilitated support groups. If you’re interested in joining the Support Network or finding out more information on NB certification, you should attend an orientation meeting at the UTLA building. Visit www.thesupportnetwork.net