National Strategy Forum Report
(PDF - 230kb) In advance of the National Strategy Forum, Oct. 4-5, 2007, the Center for Teaching Quality has prepared a report that presents the state summit outcomes and outlines other initiatives to this complex and systemic challenge.
Diversity Initiatives
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS) is committed to strengthening high-need schools, with a special focus on encouraging teachers of color to pursue National Board Certification®. NBPTS believes every child, regardless of socioeconomic status or ethnic/racial or linguistic background, deserves the opportunity to be taught by an accomplished teacher.NBPTS works to recruit and support teachers and school administrators in meeting the needs of students in low-performing schools. National Board Certified Teachers® (NBCTs) teach in rural and urban schools and are ethnically and racially diverse. In 2006 new African American NBCTs increased by 24 percent, new Hispanic NBCTs increased 13 percent and new Native American NBCTs increased 50 percent – but there are still strides to be made.
NBPTS understands that one program will not meet all the needs of all the schools in the country. NBPTS continually expands its specialized program offerings so teachers, administrators and education stakeholders can find the best solution for their schools and school districts.
Recruitment
NBPTS and its partner Hewlett Packard created The Direct Recruiting Efforts to Attract Minorities (DREAM) Team as a targeted recruitment project designed to heighten awareness of what National Board Certification means for teachers and students of color.
Support
The Targeted High Need Initiative (THNI) program is designed to increase the number of resources of NBCTs in high-poverty urban and rural schools. Additionally, Candidate Support Provider Training encourages and trains NBCTs to support fellow teachers through out the Board Certification process.
Awareness
Take One! is a classroom-based professional development program, which allows educators to complete one portfolio entry and have it scored in accordance with NBPTS standards. Take One! requires that educators have access to a preK-12 classroom in order to complete the portfolio entry.
Teacher Leadership
National Board Certified Teachers and local education leaders and policymakers meet and discuss ways to attract and retain highly-qualified teachers in high-needs schools.