by Alvin Peters, Director of the Great Plains Plains Center for National Teacher Certification

National Board Certification is a symbol of professional teaching excellence granted through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. National Board Certification complements, but does not replace, a state license. While state licensing systems set entry-level standards for novice teachers, National Board Certification establishes advanced standards for experienced teachers.

National Board Certification measures a teacher's practice against high and rigorous standards through an extensive series of performance-based assessments that include student work samples, videotapes and thorough analyses of the candidate's teaching and students' learning. Candidates also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students. All assessments are scored in a blind-review by practitioners in the candidate’s certificate area.

Certification is available in 25 areas including World Languages Other Than English (WLOE) at the Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood level (ages 11 to 18+)  and English As a New to Language (ENL) for either 3 to 12 year olds or 11 to 18+ year olds. Unfortunately, at the current time, WLOE is available only to teachers of Spanish and French. ENL has different options for candidates of English as a Second Language and candidates in bilingual programs. Candidates in dual language programs either work toward WLOE in Spanish or French or toward a different certificate (such as Middle Childhood Generalist or Literacy) in English. Candidates choose the certificate area they intend to pursue.

Certification is voluntary and open to anyone with a baccalaureate degree and three years of classroom experience in either a public or private school. It is valid for 5 years, after which a teacher must show continued growth by completing a shorter assessment which will add an additional five years to the certificate.

Teachers who have participated in National Board Certification have overwhelmingly stated it is the most powerful professional development experience of their careers. Districts in Kansas are required by state law to pay an additional $1000 per year to teachers with active National Board Certification. Some districts have negotiated additional pay incentives as well. National Board Certified Teachers in Kansas also qualify for a ten-year accomplished teaching license.

Support for candidates is offered free of charge through the Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification at Emporia State University.

For further information, contact Alvin Peters at gpeters@emporia.edu or go to www.nbpts.org or www.emporia.edu/gpcntc.