NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION: Teachers get bonus for National Board certification

School districts are awarding teachers with certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the top honor in the field, with stipends and pay increases. The number of board-certified teachers in the U.S. has tripled in the past five years to more than 55,000.

Applications can take up to 400 hours to complete. Applicants must finish in-depth projects, assemble a portfolio that includes video of themselves teaching and take an online test. Fewer than half of applicants earn certification the first year they apply. The process aims to push teachers to adapt lessons for each child, analyze why certain methods work and reach out to colleagues and the families of students.

The states with the highest financial incentives tend to have the most board-certified teachers. In North Carolina, where teachers can receive a 12 percent pay increase each year they have a valid certificate, an estimated 13 percent of teachers are board-certified; in South Carolina, where teachers earn a $7,500 bump each year, about 11 percent are board-certified.

School systems vying for the best teachers often sweeten the pot.

In Virginia, the state offers a one-time stipend of $5,000 and $2,500 each year after that to board-certified teachers. But Fairfax County also pays fees for every applicant and as much as $3,500 per year to teachers that win certification. As a result, the county has more than 200 board-certified teachers.The Washington Post

At present DC Public Schools, according to the article, have 12 National Board certified teachers since its inception in 1995. Superintendent Janey's target is 500 NBCTs in 2010. Could this be possible?

I got a letter of invitation last Friday to a reception honoring the 2006 National Board certified teachers. This is hosted by the DCPS Office of Workforce and Professional Development, Division of Academic Affairs. This is going to be on January 25th, at 6-8 PM at Bell Cultural School. I really want to go. I need to get some inspiration, some tips and advice on how to go through this process successfully.

* Please see the right sidebar for more on my National Board certification candidacy.