February 4, 2011
Arlington, Va. – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) commends President Obama in his call to “reward good teachers” during the recent State of the Union address. NBPTS encourages the President to deliver on that message by continuing and broadening federal support of the nation’s most effective program that develops, recognizes and retains effective teachers National Board Certification.
More than 91,000 of the nation’s most accomplished educators have achieved National Board Certification, which is based on the most advanced teaching standards and rigorous assessment in the country. More than half of those teachers are serving in some of the nation’s most challenged schools.
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All 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 700 school districts currently recognize National Board Certification as a mark of distinction.
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“National Board Certification is a model of pay-for-performance that is supported by teachers and administrators nationwide,” said Joseph A. Aguerrebere, president and CEO, NBPTS. “The rigorous standards and assessments of the National Board provide policymakers with the tools to define and measure teaching and leadership excellence.”
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“As a recognized leader in defining educator effectiveness, the National Board is uniquely positioned as a proven catalyst for education reform and school improvement intervention efforts, all designed to support student success,” said Aguerrebere.
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In his speech, President Obama described the federal government’s Race to the Top program as “the most meaningful public school reform of our generation.” In fact, Aguerrebere emphasized, “many states already recognize the importance of NBPTS and National Board Certification in Race to the Top, as it was referenced in eight of the 10 winning Race to the Top Round Two applications last year.”
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NBPTS stands ready to work with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who has publicly stated his support of National Board Certification as part of the school reform agenda: “As we move forward on this turnaround agenda nationally, I would love for National Board Certified Teachers to be at the forefront of that movement.” Additional recognition of the National Board’s leadership in the area of school reform includes a highly competitive five-year, $27 million Teacher Incentive Fund grant awarded NBPTS by the U.S. Department of Education to help build teacher and leadership capacity in 23 urban and rural high-need schools in Richmond, Va. and the State of Maine.
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A voluntary assessment program developed and administered by NBPTS, National Board Certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, NBCTs have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.
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About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
NBPTS, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan and nongovernmental organization, is an integral part of America’s growing education reform movement. In developing, recognizing and retaining accomplished educators, NBPTS provides advanced standards, assessments and professional development resources to support educators at all stages of their professional growth; links subject-matter knowledge and effective teaching practices to student learning and achievement; and helps build and support school-based professional learning communities. Today, more than 91,000 National Board Certified Teachers are making a positive difference in the lives of students across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.nbpts.org/.
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Contact: James R. Minichello
(703) 465-2171
Cell: (202) 360-9973
jminichello@nbpts.org
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