Using Federal Funds to Support NBPTS Programs
Guide designed as a resource for states, districts and schools to help them link NBPTS programs with Title funding support.
Addendum to the Federal Funding Guide
Includes information about the 2010 Education Jobs bill and updates information on other sources of federal funds.
Tips on Locating Funding
Federal Funding
During a panel discussion earlier this year, a U.S. Department of Education official, Brad Jupp, observed that National Board Certification and Take One! were "just the kinds of professional development [the U.S. Department of Education] was supporting" using Title II or other federal funding sources. But how do teachers access these funds? While the answer varies depending upon school district, generally speaking there are two steps in this process:
- Teachers can talk to their principals about using Title I or II funds (or other federal funds - e.g., Race to the Top or Teacher Incentive Fund). In many schools, the principal will have the ability to allocate a portion of a district or school's Title funds. Teachers should ask their principals to support them in using federal funds - and use the NBPTS Funding Guide to help the principal understand why National Board Certification is a great use of title funds. If the principal does not allocate the Title funds, teachers can query their principals about who else in the district could help them access federal funds.
- In many cases (depending again on the district's policies) teachers may need to speak with other administrative staff members to access federal funds. These often include a district's professional development director and/or a district's federal programs administrator. In both cases, teachers can ask for their support and use the NBPTS Funding Guide to help them understand why National Board Certification is such a great use of title funds.
Note that the following federal funding sources referenced in the NBPTS Funding Guide can be used to fund National Board Certification:
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)--"Race to the Top"
- U.S. Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- Title I, Improving the Achievement of the Disadvantaged
- Title II, Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals(including Teacher Incentive Fund and other grants)
- Title VII, Indian, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native Education
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Some states fund a portion of or the entire assessment fee. Other states have loan programs to fund part or all of the assessment fee. This information is often found on a state's Department of Education Web site.
Grants
NBPTS has allocated a portion of a grant it received from the U.S. Department of Education to all states and territories. A candidate can apply for these funds, which may be as high as $1,250, depending on the state. This information is also often found on the state's Department of Education Internet page,
Scholarships
Many scholarship opportunities still remain available for 2010 candidates for National Board Certification. These scholarships offer financial support for candidates pursuing a variety of certificate areas in states and districts across the county. The scholarships area on the NBPTS Web site provides information and application instructions for all scholarships which may be appropriate. Most scholarships are handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
For More Information
For more information about National Board Certification, visit Become a Candidate. NBPTS also provides state-specific information on the home page in the State and Local Information section.