Web Feature Releases

Using Recovery Act Funds for Quality Teaching—National Board Certification

March 9, 2009

Below is important information that we have shared with policymakers and decision makers across the country in the e-mail, "Using Recovery Act Funds for Quality Teaching-National Board Certification." As a stakeholder in National Board Certification, we encourage you to pass along this information to the key policymakers and decision makers in your state or district responsible for allocating funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  You may, for example, consider sharing the information with principals, superintendents, central office staff members, school board members and others responsible for federal funding of local programs.

At the end of this information, you will find: 1) a link to a summary of available information about provisions that can potentially be used to fund National Board Certification and other National Board programs; and 2) a link to the video:  "National Board Certification:  Excellence, Leadership, Results," which features NBCTs in action as well as testimonials from policymakers and other supporters.

Regular updates to the Recovery Act and NBCTs summary will be posted on AdvocacyLink (http://www.nbpts.org/get_involved)

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The purpose of this message is to encourage you to consider using a portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) money to initiate, restore, protect or expand the National Board Certification program in your jurisdiction.  National Board Certification is a proven program to improve teacher effectiveness that has strong federal support at the highest levels.   We believe that National Board Certification helps fulfill the basic educational services that are a civil right of our children.  In particular, the National Board's Targeted High Need Initiative (THNI)  is designed to increase the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) working in high-need schools  and is strongly aligned with President Barack Obama's priority to ensure the equitable distribution of high quality teachers.

During the press conference announcing the nomination for U.S. Secretary of Education, both Arne Duncan and President Obama endorsed National Board Certification as an integral factor in the highly touted education reform effort in Chicago.  Further, during his confirmation hearing, Secretary Duncan mentioned National Board Certified Teachers as contributing to his success as CEO of Chicago Public Schools. 

Why do President Obama and Secretary Duncan hold the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in such high regard?  Because it works.  In June 2008, the National Research Council of the National Academies issued a congressionally-mandated report that stated, "The evidence is clear that National Board Certification distinguishes more effective teachers... with respect to student achievement."  Other studies have found:

• Students of NBCTs generally outperform students of non-NBCTs on standardized tests.
• Students of NBCTs scored 7 to 15 percentage points higher on year-end tests than students of non-NBCTs. These studies also show that minority students benefit even more from instruction by NBCTs.
• In one large-scale analysis of more than 100,000 student records, students of NBCTs - particularly African American and Hispanic students - made larger score gains on mathematics tests than students taught by non-NBCTs.
• Students of NBCTs make learning gains equivalent to an extra month in school. 

 
National Board Certified Teachers do more than just improve test scores.  Standardized tests do not gauge how well a student explores or expresses new ideas - skills that reflect higher-order thinking and that can be developed by high-quality teaching. Studies show that students with NBCTs improve in terms of "deep" learning - the kind of higher-order thinking that policymakers and business officials say is needed for a successful workforce.

The federal government has stepped in to provide more than $130 billion for education through passage of the Recovery Act.  Almost immediately, money will be distributed to the states and school districts to meet a number of critical needs.  Although there will be some flexibility on how the money can be spent, there will also be very stringent accountability regarding those expenditures. 
 
Title II, Part A-5, section 2151(c) of the U.S. Elementary and Secondary Education Act already recognizes the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as an eligible entity for federal funding.  The needs are great, the demands urgent, and the stakes have never been higher.  As you decide on the best way to allocate these resources, you can rest assured that National Board Certification represents a sound, fiscal investment in our future.

When the U.S. Department of Education issues guidance and regulations regarding the dissemination of the funding under the Recovery Act, we will update you on specific ways that you can use the money for National Board programs. 

For more information, see:

• The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009  http://www.nbpts.org/userfiles/File/RecoveryActSummary_03032009.pdf
• The video, "National Board Certification-Excellence, Leadership, Results" http://www.nbpts.org/about_us/nbpts_video

If you have questions, or would like more information, please contact:

Anna Davis, Executive Director for Government Relations, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, at RecoveryAct@nbpts.org.