February 2002 Professional Development Newsletter
Quality teaching counts. Research by Stanford’s Linda Darling
Hammond, the Ed Trust’s Kati Haycock and others repeatedly finds
that teacher quality is the most important factor influencing student
achievement. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
identifies those teaching standards most important to student success
and provides a way for teachers to become accomplished in their
profession. The February Professional Development Newsletter shares
resources that can help schools and districts to advance accomplished
teaching through National Board Certification.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
2. What’s it All About?
3. The Five Core Propositions
4. Validation Study
5. What Teachers Say About the Assessment Process
6. After Certification, Then What?
7. National Board Fees
8. California Department of Education Contact
9. California Rewards NB Certified Teachers
10. $20,000 for NB Certified Teachers in Low Performing Schools
11. Number of California NBCTs Growing
12. The Status of the Teaching Profession: 2001
13. California Incentives by District
14. National Incentives
15. Support for NB Teacher-Candidates
16. When The Journey is Its Own Reward
17. Higher Education and the National Board
18. National Board Resource Center at Stanford
19. NBPTS TV
20. CD-ROM
21. Got Questions about the National Board?
CURRENT EVENTS
22. Nurturing the Leader Within
23. CAHSEE Reader Recruiting
24. Summer Seminars and Institutes For Teachers
1. THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS (NBPTS)
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was
created in 1987 following the Carnegie Forum’s report, "A Nation
at Risk." "A Nation Prepared" stated: "The key to success lies in
creating a profession equal to the task—a profession of well-educated
teachers prepared to assume new powers and responsibilities to
redesign schools for the future." The Carnegie Task Force called for a
National Board of Professional Teaching Standards to set standards for
accomplished teaching and to certify teachers who meet those standards.
http://www.nbpts.org/about/history.html
2. WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
National Board certification is a voluntary program. Certification
may compliment state licensing, but does not replace it. National
Board Standards identify best practices as found in the classrooms of
accomplished teachers. In a series of four portfolio entries,
teachers provide clear, consistent, and convincing evidence of the NB
standards through videos, whole and small group class discussions,
analysis of student work, and reflection. To become certified,
teachers provide evidence of their growth as life-long learners, as
members of a professional community, and of outreach to the parents
and community of their students. In addition to the required portfolio
entries, teachers respond to a series of six assignments focusing on
their grade level and content areas.
http://www.nbpts.org
3. THE FIVE CORE PROPOSITIONS
All of the National Board standards are reflected in the following
five Core Propositions: 1) Teachers are committed to students and
their learning; 2) Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to
teach those subjects to students; 3) Teachers are responsible for
managing and monitoring student learning; 4) Teachers think
systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and
5) Teachers are members of learning communities.
http://www.nbpts.org/standards
4. VALIDATION STUDY
Does National Board Certification really matter? A team of
researchers from the University of North Carolina says it does.
They determined that Board Certified teachers differed significantly
from their peers in the quality of their classroom teaching
practices; in the quality of work produced by their students on
classroom assignments and on external modes of student assessment;
and in terms of their post-assessment professional activities. Board
Certified teachers outperform their peers in 11 of 13 key dimensions
of teaching expertise, according to the study.
http://new.nbpts.org/press/valstudy.pdf
5. WHAT TEACHERS SAY ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
"I am a better teacher." That’s the consensus of teachers who have
completed the certification process, whether or not they certify
during their first attempt. In a September 2001 survey of 10,700
NB candidates who had completed the NB process and were awaiting
notification of their results, 5,641 responded. Key findings: 92%
believed NBC process made them a better teacher; 96% said NBC process
was excellent, very good, or good professional development; 89% agree
or strongly agree the NBC process equips them to create stronger
curricula, improve ways to evaluate student learning, and develop a
framework to use state content standards to improve teaching.
http://new.nbpts.org/Press/better_teacher.pdf
6. AFTER CERTIFICATION, THEN WHAT?
NBCTs expand their leadership roles in support of student learning,
are experiencing increased career satisfaction, and are strengthening
their profession through advocacy and collegial networks. These
findings are reported by Yankelovich Partners, the research team that
conducted a Teacher Leadership Survey in 2001.
http://new.nbpts.org/Press/leading_from_the_classroom.pdf
7. NATIONAL BOARD FEES
The CDE subsidizes public school teacher’s application for National
Board Certification by paying $1,000 of the $2,300 fee for all
teachers who apply. Federal and private grant funds are frequently
available, as are low-interest loans, and district incentives, to
offset the balance of the one-time fees.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/nbpts.html
8. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTACT
Kay Garcia, a National Board Certified Teacher, works for the
California Department of Education (CDE) full-time supporting
candidates, interfacing with the legislature, and providing
assistance on National Board Certification. For the latest
information and for prompt answers to all of your questions,
contact Kay directly at 916-323-5832 or
via e-mail at kgarcia@cde.ca.gov.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/nbpts.html
9. CALIFORNIA REWARDS NB CERTIFIED TEACHERS
SB 1666 provides a one-time incentive award of $10,000 for all public
school teachers who achieve certification. To be eligible for this
award, a teacher must be assigned to teach in a K-12 public school at
least fifty percent of the time when the award is granted. For
purposes of this award "assigned to teach" may include a teacher
leadership role such as a peer coach, mentor teacher, or other
teacher support provider if the position does not require an
administrative credential.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/nbpts.html
10. $20,000 FOR NB CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS
NB Certified teachers who teach students at least sixty percent of
the time in low-performing schools (API 5 or below) are eligible for
a $20,000 incentive award, paid in four annual installments of $5,000
each. Districts must verify, by July 30, that teachers have
completed the school year. Funds are then released to districts to
pay teachers.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/nbpts.html
11. NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA NBCTS GROWING
Nearly ten percent of the 16,035 National Board Certified teachers in
the country are teaching in California, and their numbers are
growing. Effective November 2001, there are 1302 NBCTs in the state.
As of December 2001 over 1400 California teachers from more than 250
school districts are seeking National Board Certification and have
applied for the 2001-2002 $1,000 fee subsidy.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/nbpts.html#2
12. THE STATUS OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION: 2001
This report, about the status of the teaching profession, was
compiled and published by The Center for the Future of Teaching
and Learning, a public nonprofit institution dedicated to the
improvement of teacher professional development policy and practice.
It was written to influence policy makers’ thinking and actions to
ensure that every California school child has a qualified and
effective teacher. The report emphasizes the need for more National
Board teachers at all of our school sites.
http://www.cftl.org/publications.html
13. CALIFORNIA INCENTIVES BY DISTRICT
The certification process, although professionally rewarding, is
arduous. Many districts encourage and support teachers through a
variety of incentive programs, in addition to those available through
the state. This site is an excellent reference for districts that
are considering provision of National Board assistance and/or
incentives. Note: This website is dependent on district
self-reporting and is sometimes out-of-date.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/chart3.html
14. NATIONAL INCENTIVES
As of November 2001, legislative and policy action creating
incentives and recognition for National Board Certification has
been enacted in 47 states and in approximately 383 local school
districts, including the District of Columbia. Only Texas, Nebraska,
and Alaska do not currently offer recognition and/or incentives for
National Board Certification. Forty states accept National Board
Certification as proof of a teaching credential. California awards
a clear credential to National Board Certified teachers holding a
preliminary credential.
http://www.nbpts.org/state_local/index.html
15. SUPPORT FOR NB TEACHER-CANDIDATES
The California Professional Development Consortia provides support
and information for teachers seeking National Board Certification.
Support may include dissemination of resources and information,
workshops, summer institutes, after-school meetings, conferences,
and more. Consult your local CPDC regional office for more
information regarding support services. Many colleges and
universities also offer support programs.
http://www.cftl.org/nbpts/cahelpmap.html
16. WHEN THE JOURNEY IS ITS OWN REWARD
Written by Joy Zimmerman and published by WestEd, this Knowledge
Brief recounts the professional development journey National Board
candidates undertake. The report provides an overview of then
current support programs, the philosophies underlying them, and
commentary about what works and what doesn’t. UCLA’s NBPTS Support
Program Director, Adrienne Mack, interviewed for this report, is now
a support provider with the California Professional Development
Consortia at the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
http://web.WestEd.org/online_pubs/certbrief2.pdf
17. HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE NATIONAL BOARD
The National Board is working with educators and policymakers to
create a system of teacher preparation and professional development
that reflects the best practice. The system would create a continuum
of teacher learning from recruitment and preservice education through
licensing, hiring, and induction, and continuing through advanced
certification and graduate degrees. Colleges and universities are
key participants in this effort working through NCATE (National
Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) and INTASC
(Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium).
http://www.nbpts.org/higher_ed/index.html
18. NATIONAL BOARD RESOURCE CENTER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY
The NB Resource Center at Stanford, under the direction of Dr. Linda
Darling-Hammond, is one of five regional centers established by the
NBPTS. The goal is to infuse the NBPTS standards for accomplished
teaching throughout all levels of the professional development
continuum. Housed at WestEd, the Resource Center also provides
year-long support for teachers seeking National Board Certification.
http://nbrc.stanford.edu
19. NBPTS TV
The NBPTS provides several videos about the National Board process.
Productions available for viewing include a series of public service
announcements in support of NBPTS, and a compilation of news clips
that have aired on broadcast television stations across the country.
More videos will be added as they become available.
http://www.nbpts.org/about/news_center/index.html
20. CD-ROM
The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning and the University
of California Office of the President provides a complimentary
CD-ROM, "Advancing National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Certification in California." There are video clips of National
Board teachers, excerpts of portfolio entries, and links to the
California Subject Matter Projects, the California Department of
Education, the National Board, and others.
http://www.gse.uci.edu/nbc
21. GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATIONAL BOARD?
The National Board provides quick answers to the most frequently
asked questions about its practices, policies, procedures,
requirements, eligibility, and more. If your question is not
already answered, post your question on this popular National
Board website.
http://www.nbpts.org
CURRENT EVENTS
22. NURTURING THE LEADER WITHIN
The California Professional Development Consortia, the California
Department of Education and the Education Alliance encourage
participation in the annual conference for California teachers,
"Nurturing the Leader Within" in Costa Mesa from March 20-22, 2002.
The conference offers renowned national and state speakers; more than
60 interactive sessions designed to address the challenges faced by
teachers, school boards, communities, and legislators; and
opportunities to network with teacher leaders from throughout the
state. To receive a registration packet, contact the Education
Alliance at 831-457-7991 or fax requests to 831-425-1244.
http://www.edualliance.org/pdc/
23. CAHSEE READER RECRUITING
The Educational Testing Services is seeking teachers, active or
retired, student teachers, graduate students, and non-credentialed
holders of Bachelor’s degrees to score the essay portions of the
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). Online essay scoring
sessions are scheduled for March 22-April 15, May 24-June 17,
August 8-September 2, and November 22-December 16 in 2002. Scorers
will work online from their homes using their own equipment, Internet and
telephone connections, with phone and e-mail support from trained Scoring
Leaders. Applicants who meet the eligibility and technical
requirements and successfully certify can become CAHSEE scorers.
Scorers will be paid $14.50 per hour and Scoring Leaders will be paid
$18.00 per hour. Participants need not be available for all sessions
or 40 hours per week but must be able to work in pre-scheduled
4-hour blocks of time. This is an excellent means of learning more
about CASHEE and the equality of student writing that is required to
pass the writing portion of the test. To obtain further information
about the program, including hardware, software and telephone
requirements, and to file an electronic application, please visit
the ETS website.
http://www.ets.org/reader/osn
24. SUMMER SEMINARS AND INSTITUTES FOR TEACHERS
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has released a list
of summer seminars and institutes for teachers and college/university
faculty. Seminars are designed to give teachers opportunities for
intensive study in the humanities in an effort to strengthen the
quality of humanities instruction at all grade levels. The
application deadline for these residential summer institutes is
March 1, 2001. Participants will receive stipends based on the
length of the institute, ranging from $2,800 to $3,700. For more
information, email sem-inst@neh.gov, phone 202-606-8463, or consult
the website.
http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html
25. CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BROADCAST SERIES
This six part series profiles a different California school in
each program that have been successful in their quest to
improve the achievement of students typically left behind.
KETN is broadcasting all programs at 11-12 noon on Fridays
and remaining broadcasts are scheduled for:
Program #4 - March 15, Program #5 – April 26,
Program #6 – June 7. All programs are also being
taped and will be available for check-out from the
KCSOS Media Services. Call 852-5846 for more information
or do an on line keyword search: http://learning.kern.org/media.
This electronic newsletter is sponsored by the Region 8, California
Professional Development Consortium (CPDC) administered by the
Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office. For more information
about the CPDC call Christina Doyle at 661-636-4331 or send a
fax to 661-636-4135. To subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter,
email Cristina Doyle at cdoyle@kern.org or send a fax to 661-636-4135.
If you wish to receive our free electronic High School Newsletter,
Email Christina Doyle at cdoyle@kern.org or send a fax to 661-636-4135.
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