Using NBCTs in "Race to the Top” Proposals

“I'm a big fan of National Board Certification. Our students listen to what we say, but they spend a lot more time watching what we do. When you see your best teachers continuing to learn and grow, and taking on things like National Board Certification, they're really walking the walk. And the difference that makes in our students' lives is extraordinary.”

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, May 2009

States that are submitting proposals for federal “Race to the Top” funding should consider including National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) programs.  NBPTS programs are ideally positioned to address the requirement for increasing teacher effectiveness and ensuring an equitable distribution of qualified teachers.   These programs improve low-performing schools through NBPTS standards, teaching practices and assessments. 

Teacher effectiveness lies at the heart of education reform. The NBPTS programs build upon the proven record of National Board standards and assessments as a means to improve teacher effectiveness, change the learning culture of schools and ultimately improve student learning and performance—especially in high-need schools.  They provide an integrated approach to building teacher effectiveness and leadership capacity for enhancing student achievement.

·         National Board Certification candidacy is available to teachers with at least three years experience in one of 25 certification areas.

·         Take One!, a component of National Board Certification, changes the culture of a school by involving the entire faculty—teachers, with all levels of experience, as well as school-based administrators—in ongoing, site-based professional development based on the National Board standards and assessment process.

Some states and districts are planning to use the National Board programs as core elements in their proposals to address teacher effectiveness and also wrapping in other components to meet their state’s specific needs—e.g., leveraging existing NBCTs as teacher leaders and incorporating new teacher induction into their proposals.  The National Board is working with these states and can assist other states, as well.

National Board Certification 

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to identify teachers who meet the standards of accomplished teaching. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. NBPTS programs in a state’s schools can help develop, recognize and retain effective teachers.  The National Board standards and assessment process can also become the catalyst for an entire faculty to strengthen the linkage between effective teaching and student performance.

·         National Board Certified Teachers improve student achievement and learning.  Students of NBCTs outperform students of non-NBCTs on achievement tests—and the effect is even greater among minority students. 

More on NBCTs and research about their impact. (PDF-721 kb)

·         The National Board Certification process helps keep the most highly accomplished teachers in the classroom.  A recent report about National Board Certification in Chicago found that nearly 9 out of 10 NBCTs remained in the district, a teacher retention rate far higher than in other urban school districts.

More on how Chicago is using NBCTs. (PDF - 756kb)

Take One!

Take One!, a component of National Board Certification, provides a standards-based approach for improving teaching practice and linking student learning to effective instruction.  School-wide participation stimulates the development of learning communities organized around professional teaching standards.  Take One! makes a difference in high-need schools.  

·         Independent evaluations, as well as the schools themselves, are reporting positive outcomes that include a strong learning culture, sharing of teaching best practices and improved student learning. 

·         Teachers are indicating that Take One! improved the quality of their instructional planning and implementation.

More on how schools are using Take One!

How to incorporate NBPTS programs into a state proposal 

NBPTS is pleased to assist states in incorporating NBPTS programs into Race to the Top proposals.  A two-year comprehensive program using Take One! for an entire faculty of 50 and National Board Certification for 25 qualified teachers would cost an estimated $130,000.* 

Learn more about how National Board Certification and Take One! programs can be implemented in a school, and the fees involved.  (PDF-88kb)

For more information about NBPTS programs and funding, 
contact the National Board at customer_support@nbpts.org