ISSUE PAPER PRESENTATION
NATIONAL BOARD
CERTIFICATION
Kristine Lara, Chris Martinez, Amy Peterman
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
- PROS
Pros: The National Research Council conducted a study in 2008
of the effectiveness of NBCT’s. The study concluded that
National Board Certification was “an effective way to identify
highly skilled teachers.”
 Reflective Process
 Differentiation
 Teaching methods and learning styles
 Student Achievement
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS CONS
•
“No studies have shown National Board certified teachers are any better than other
•
teachers at raising student achievement.” (Defrocking the National Board, 2001)
•
According to the SVE Foundation, “some research indicates that students of National
Board certified teachers do not demonstrate significantly better performance in comparison
with students of non-certified teachers.”
MONEY AND TIME - PROS
 Many states and school districts have offered financial bonuses for
teachers who receive National Board Certification.
 Grants and financial support are available through different educator
associations such as NEA (National Education Association) and PAGE
(Professional Association of Georgia Educators).
 Board certification is now a part of some graduate programs.
MONEY AND TIME - CONS
 According to the article “Great Expectations the fee for certification is
$2,300 and can “take the better part of a school year and involve a total
of 200-400 hours of work.”
 Certification also has to be renewed every ten years.
 “Only about 50% of candidates are successful in their first effort at
certification.” (Boyd, W. & Reese, J., 2006)
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PROS
 Leadership opportunities
 Mentorships
 Staff development
MINORITY APPLICANTS –
CON
 According to an SVE Foundation article it states,
“Although African American and Hispanic teachers enter the
National Board Certification candidacy pool in numbers
proportional to their representation in the U.S. teaching force,
they earn certification at much lower rates (Wayne, ChangRoss, Daniels, Knowles, Mitchell, & Price, 2004).
MINORITY APPLICANTS –
CON
 In the same article it is noted that the majority of National
Board certified teachers do not end up working in high-need
schools where they may be needed most. Therefore,
teachers who become Nationally Board Certified do not work
in schools where we are trying to close the achievement gap.
WEIGHING THE PROS AND
CONS
When trying to determine where I stand on the issue, several
questions come to mind?
1. Is becoming NBCT the most cost effective way to
improve
teaching?
2. Is the cost, both in time spent and money, worth it?
3. Is becoming NBCT the best to increase opportunities
for career
growth?
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
 According to a study conducted by the National Research
Council of Academies, students of board-certified teachers
outperform students of non-certified teachers on achievement
tests. The positive effect is even greater for minority students.
(Exstrom 8)
 A study conducted for the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards showed no significant difference between
the achievement of students taught by NCBTs versus nonNCBTs. (McColske and Stronge 20)
MONEY
 The state of Virginia offers an initial award of $5,000 to be
issued to teachers who meet the eligibility criteria and have
achieved National Board Certification. Also, eligible teachers
receive an additional $2,500 annually for the life of the active
certificate to teachers who meet eligibility criteria. (VDOE)
 In the state of Georgia, House Bill 243 stipulates that salary
increases for existing National Board Certified Teachers are
subject to appropriations from the General Assembly.
Unfortunately, for the current school year, funds for salary
increases have not been appropriated. (Georgia Code 20-2-212.2)
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
 Certification provides routes for NBCTs to advance as master teachers,
school leaders, and mentors without leaving the classroom. Should you
choose to leave the classroom, the NBCT credential opens doors to
positions in school and district administration, curriculum development,
mentoring and staff development, and higher education, among others.
 Pursuing a certification or degree in Leadership and Supervision opens
up doors for career advancement as well. Being NBCT is some divisions
does not qualify you to become an administrator.
BOTTOM LINE
 There are quality arguments for both sides of the issue.
 There is quality teaching being done by both NBCTs and nonNBCTs.
 As an administrator, what would you want from your teachers?
 The arguments balance themselves out, therefore I remain neutral.