nbc

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION

Certification
Coverage
Areas

Assessment
Process

Application
Information

Financial
Support
Available

Title II
Teacher
Quality
Program

Training and
Development

Mentoring Guidelines
Mentoring Log
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created in 1987 from a recommendation in the Carnegie report, A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century. The National Board was charged with establishing high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, developing and operating a national, voluntary system to assess and certify teachers who meet these standards, and advancing related education reforms for the purpose of improving student learning in American schools.

The National Board is governed by a 63 member board of directors. Most of the directors are classroom teachers; others are school administrators, school board members, governors and state legislators, higher education officials, teacher union leaders, and business and community leaders.

National Board Certification is a voluntary process. It is designed to complement, not replace, state licensing, while establishing advanced standards for experienced teachers. State licensing (sometimes called "certification," as in Florida) primarily focuses on beginning teachers; it reflects the minimum standards a state can expect of a teacher candidate. National Board Certification, on the other hand, recognizes the advanced skills of experienced teachers. It is based on high and rigorous standards of accomplished practices.

A Board-certified teacher is recognized as having received the highest honor the profession can bestow. Board-certified teachers will serve as role models and spokespersons in the effort to revitalize the teaching profession. Many states and districts reward Board-certified teachers with financial benefits, recognition, and new roles in the profession.

For the most up-to-date information or to ask specific questions, call the National Board at 1-800-22-TEACH or visit the National Board's website at http://www.nbpts.org/

For information regarding the Miami-Dade County Public Schools program including applications and fee subsidy forms, contact Dr. Gabriel Quintero, Administrative Director, at (305)995-7179.

Re-Take
Information
Re-Take Flyer

12/3/04

Certificates are valid for 10 years. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is currently studying renewal options.

National Board Certification is performance-oriented: its goal is to "recognize accomplished teaching within the context of the classroom." It is not an aptitude exam; it is more than a test of subject mastery. The innovative assessment methods do not rely on "paper and pencil" tests, nor are there multiple choice items.

The process of National Board Certification includes a two-part assessment process designed to examine talent, skills, and knowledge. The first part requires the compilation of an extensive school-site portfolio. The portfolio includes videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans, samples of student work and written commentaries. The second part requires the teacher to participate in performance-based activities at an assessment center. The activities focus on a teacher's subject area and content knowledge.

Portfolio entries and assessment center activities are scored by teachers who have demonstrated understanding of the National Board standards and who have received special training to prepare them to serve as a scorer.

Scorers evaluate the videotapes, student work samples, and teacher's analysis and written responses to assessment center activities considering the conscious, deliberate, analytical and reflective criteria the National Board standards endorse.

Teachers have about five months to compile portfolios. Most teachers report spending over 150 hours on their portfolios.-

A candidate must earn a minimum score of 2.75 on individual entries and a total score of 275 for the entire process in order to receive National Board Certification. Entries on which a candidate scored 2.75 or more may be banked for up to two years. During this two year period, teachers who are not yet certified may retake any of the remaining entries and exercises and submit new responses, which will then be scored.

To be eligible to apply, a teacher must hold a baccalaureate degree, have taught for a minimum of three years and have held a valid state teaching license for those three years or, where a license is not required, taught in schools recognized and approved to operate by the state. Additionally, the teacher's certificate must never have been subject to disciplinary action by the Florida Education Practices Commission.

The fee for assessment is currently $2,300 with a minimum of $300 due with the application unless the applicant qualifies for the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program fee subsidy. Because National Board Certification assessments are performance-based, not multiple choice or fill-in-the-blanks tests that can be scored quickly and mechanically, the administration and scoring of complex performances are costly. Training teachers as assessors and paying honoraria for their time is also costly. The National Board believes, despite higher costs, that assessments based on individual teacher's practice are the most fair and valid way to give teachers an opportunity to demonstrate accomplished teaching.

Fee supports and incentives for seeking National Board Certification are available in Florida and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Through the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program Act, legislation has appropriated funding to help offset the certification fee and expenses, provide teachers who achieve National Board Certification with a salary bonus, and pay a bonus to those who mentor other teachers or serve as support mentors for teachers who do not possess National Board Certification (e.g., new teachers or National Board candidates). Under the provisions of the Excellent Teaching Program Act, the state will subsidize 90% of the fee ($2070 fee), provide a 10% salary bonus based on the average state teacher salary for the life of the certificate, and pay an additional 10% bonus to those who meet mentoring requirements. Subsidies and bonuses are contingent upon continued state funding.

In addition, M-DCPS and UTD negotiated an incentive program for teachers who have achieved National Board Certification as well as those pursuing National Board Certification. Teachers who have achieved National Board Certification are paid a one-time $7,500 stipend and, if new to M-DCPS, receive credit for teaching experience equal to one step on the salary schedule for each year of out-of-state experience. Teachers who complete the assessment process are eligible to receive up to 120 Master Plan Points.

Along with financial support, the Teacher Education Center; in collaboration with the National Board Certified Teachers om Miami-Dade, Inc., provides support for new and retake candidates. The support network includes an mentors to assist with portfolio preparation and coordination of mentoring services.

2004-2005 MENTORING GUIDELINES

In order to qualify for the Excellent Teaching Program Mentoring Salary Bonus, a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) must provide the equivalent of 12 workdays (minimum of 90 hours) of mentoring and related services to teachers who do not possess National Board Certification (i.e., new teachers, NBPTS candidates, etc.). The activities must include strategies to help teachers work more effectively with the families of their students (F.S. 1012.72 (2)(d), effective 2003). In order to facilitate processing of requests, NBCTs are encouraged to submit their mentoring forms and supporting documentation as soon as all requirements are satisfied.

Acceptable activities include:

- Individual mentoring and support provided to new teachers and teachers in need of assistance in areas dealing with classroom management, instructional planning, teaching strategies, etc.

- Providing mentoring to National Board Candidates (reviewing and providing feedback on entries, videotapes, and artifacts)

- Providing these services to eligible teachers either face-to-face, on-line or via telephone

Activities not creditable toward Mentoring Bonus requirements include:

- Mentoring and support activities that take place during the contract workday (except during non-student-contact periods) and/or during paid holiday/recess periods

- Delivery of informational presentations and/or sessions

- Travel to and from, and preparation time for, professional functions

- Activities that do not provide mentoring and support services to full-time public school teachers who do not possess NBPTS certification

- Proofreading and editing of materials that does not occur as a part of the delivery of mentoring activities (i.e., merely proofreading and/or editing material does not constitute mentoring)

- Mentoring and support activities delivered while on leave

All activities must be recorded on the mentoring log form provided. Incomplete entries will not be considered. Documentation of services provided should be attached in the following cases:

- On-line mentoring (e.g., provide copies of e-mail messages)

- Weekend mentoring at a school site (e.g., provide documentation from school-site administrator confirming that location was open and accessible on weekend)

The deadline to submit mentoring forms and documentation is Friday, April 22, 2005. All materials must be received by the deadline. Materials must be submitted to:

                                     Location 9017
                                    Attn.: Dr. Gabriel P. Quintero
                                    Excellent Teaching Program: Mentoring

It is the responsibility of each NBCT to ensure the accuracy and completeness of their materials. Faxes will not be accepted.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Quintero at 305-995-7179,

CLICK HERE FOR MENTORING GUIDELINES (PDF Document)

CLICK HERE FOR MENTORING LOG (Word Document)