1. National Board Certification A Distinction That Matters
Dr. Sonja Brown
National Board Certification Program Coordinator
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

2. What is National Board Certification?
Recognition of accomplished teaching, content knowledge and teaching pedagogy
Evaluation of teaching practices based upon national standards
Voluntary advanced certification
Professional development

3. National Board Certification
Validates your teaching practices
Advances your career
Increases financial opportunities
Provides a portable teaching license in most states
Contributes to CEU re-certification requirements
and more……

4. NBCTs Impact Students Foster a deeper understanding of content
Improve student learning and achievement
Prepare future
ready students

5. NBCTs Impact School Culture
Build learning communities
Serve as school leaders
Support mentoring for new or struggling teachers
Improve relationships with families and community
Provide public distinction for your school

6. Research Study Supports NBC
Can Teacher Quality Be Effectively Assessed?
Data includes annual test scores in grades 3-5 for three years
Data indicates increased student performance
Math and reading test scores show an average of 7% year-end improvement
Performance differential shows up to a 15% gain for lower income students
University of Washington & the Urban Institute Study (2004)

7. Describe your most successful teaching experience

8. NBPTS Five Core Propositions and NCTEP Five Teaching Standards
Committed to students and their learning
Serve as members of learning communities
Responsible for managing and monitoring student learning
Think systematically about their practice and learn from experience
Know the subjects and how to teach them to students
Standard 3:
Teachers know the Content they teach
Standard 1:
Teachers Demonstrate Leadership
Standard 2:
Teachers establish a Respectful Environment for a diverse population of students
~Interconnected Themes~
21st Century Skills/Knowledge
Collaboration
Effective Communication
Ongoing Assessment
Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
Teachers know the subjects and how to teach them to students.
Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
Teachers serve as members of learning communities.
Standard 5:
Teachers Reflect on their Practice
Standard 4:
Teachers Facilitate Learning

9. 25 Certificate Areas Cover 16 content areas
Cover 7 developmental levels
Apply to more than 95% of teachers
Founded upon the Five Core Propositions

10. National Board Certification Revision
Tell me more!

11. History of Revisions to National Board Certification Process
1994
•6 Portfolio Entries
•4 Assessment Center Exercises
2001
•4 Portfolio Entries
•6 Assessment Center Exercise
2014
•4 Components (Including Assessment Center Exercises)

12. Why revise the process?
Remove barriers. We worked with National Board Certified Teachers
(NBCTs) and other experts in the profession to remove barriers in the process that have nothing to do with whether a teacher is accomplished.

13. Why revise the process?
Incorporate the latest research. Just as we ask teachers to be reflective in their practice, we are reflecting on the certification process to ensure it mirrors the evolving nature of the profession and current research on best practices in teaching. The process was last revised in 2001.

14. What is changing? Flexibility
While teachers can complete the entire certification process in one year once it is fully implemented, some may choose to do so over several years if that fits better with other demands on a teacher’s time.

15. $75 cycle enrollment fee (each year you apply for a component)
What is changing?
Affordability - The total cost of certification will decrease from $2500 to $1,900, with each of the four components costing $475. Candidates will have the option to pay for and submit components separately.
Two important price points
$475 for each component and
$75 cycle enrollment fee (each year you apply for a component)
The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NC-SEAA) will lend the $1900 assessment fee upfront to any eligible teacher. Teachers must pay the NBPTS annual registration fee ($75.00) when they submit their application to NBPTS, apply for the NC-SEAA loan through the Department of Public Instruction, wait to receive and sign a promissory note from the SEAA office. Candidates will have the opportunity to wait 12 months, interest free, before beginning payments. Teachers can repay the assessment fee within three years to the state of NC.

16. Efficiency - While maintaining the same level of rigor, the process
What is changing?
Efficiency - While maintaining the same level of rigor, the process
will be grouped into four components.
Component
Name
Evidence 1
Content Knowledge
Assessment Center 2
Differentiation in Instruction
Student Work 3
Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
Video 4
Effective and Reflective Practitioner
TBD
THE COMPONENTS
A general description of each component follows. The specific instructions will
vary by certificate area, as will the standards assessed by each component.

17. The Components Content Knowledge
Content Knowledge: In this computer-based assessment, you demonstrate
knowledge of and pedagogical practices for teaching your content area. You
must demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate content, which is
necessary for teaching across the full age range and ability level of your chosen
certificate area. This is assessed through the completion of three constructed
response exercises and approximately 45 selected response items (SRIs). You
will have up to 30 minutes to complete each of the three constructed response
exercises and up to 60 minutes to complete the selected response section.

18. Differentiation in Instruction
The Components
Differentiation in Instruction
Differentiation in Instruction: This classroom-based portfolio entry is
primarily comprised of samples of student work and an accompanying written
commentary. You will submit selected work samples that demonstrate the
students’ growth over time and a written commentary that analyzes your
instructional choices.

19. Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
The Components
Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
Teaching Practice and Learning Environment: This component is currently
under development. It is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires
video recording(s) of interactions between you and your students. A written
commentary in which you describe, analyze and reflect on your teaching and
interactions will also be submitted. Both the video and the written commentary
should demonstrate how you engage students and impact their learning.

20. Effective and Reflective Practitioner
The Components
Effective and Reflective Practitioner
Effective and Reflective Practitioner: This component is currently under
development. It is a portfolio entry that requires evidence of your impact
across your professional responsibilities as an educator including your students,
peers, and community.

21. What’s not changing?
Though the process is changing, the certification principles remain the same:
• National Board Standards
• Five Core Propositions
• Architecture of Accomplished Teaching
• A performance-based, peer-review model
• Content knowledge and commitment to student learning

22. What does this mean for 2013-14 candidates?
The 2013−14 candidate cycle is the last time that first-time candidates apply using the existing certification process.
Candidates must apply by February 28, 2014 to pursue certification in the current process.
Retake candidates will continue under the process they started.

23. What does this mean for 2014-15 candidates and beyond?
Applications for the revised certification process will be available March 2014.
The revised certification will be rolled out over time, with the first two components for most certificate areas available for the 2014−15 school year.
Access your National Board information through “My Account “ instead of “My Profile”
New website available:
Access My Account at to
 view your candidate record;
 view payments;
 update personal information;
 pay by credit or debit card.
New website available:
Everyone should use this website instead of

24. The Certification Process
Computer-based Assessment
Component 1: Content Knowledge assessment
Portfolio Entries
 Component 2: Differentiation in Instruction
 Component 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
 Component 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner
Content Knowledge
In this computer-based assessment, you demonstrate knowledge of and pedagogical
practices for teaching your content area. You must demonstrate knowledge of
developmentally appropriate content, which is necessary for teaching across the full age
range and ability level of your chosen certificate area. This is assessed through the
completion of three constructed response exercises and approximately 45 selected response
items (SRIs). You will have up to 30 minutes to complete each of the three constructed
response exercises and up to 60 minutes to complete the selected response section.
Differentiation in Instruction
This classroom-based portfolio entry is primarily comprised of samples of student work and
an accompanying written commentary. You will submit selected work samples that
demonstrate the students’ growth over time and a written commentary that analyzes your
instructional choices.
Teaching Practice and Learning Environment—This component is currently under
development.
This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recording(s) of interactions
between you and your students. A written commentary in which you describe, analyze and
reflect on your teaching and interactions will also be submitted. Both the video and the
written commentary should demonstrate how you engage students and impact their learning.
Effective and Reflective Practitioner—This component is currently under development.
This is a portfolio entry that requires evidence of your impact across your professional
responsibilities as an educator including your students, peers, and community.

25. Roll-out Schedule
Due to the ongoing revision of the Career and Technical Education (CTE), candidates for the CTE certificate will begin the new process in
**The World Language (WL) and Music Content Knowledge will be delayed until , but Differentiation in Instruction will be available in

26. Timeline for revision to National Board Certification process
Year
Field test of
Assessment revisions
Component 1:
Content Knowledge
Component 3:
Teaching Practice &
Learning Environment
Component 4:
Reflective and Effective Practitioner
N/A
National Board
1st time candidates
Current Assessment
Revised Assessment: Components1& 2 available
Revised Assessment: Components
1, 2 & 3 available
Revised Assessment:
All components available
Retakes under the process ,
Candidates ,
candidates
candidates
Retakes under the revised process
candidates ,
candidates
Take One!
Available, but not bankable
Renewal
Current Assessment
Proposed new assessment

27. NBPTS Eligibility Requirements
North Carolina Eligibility Requirements for the State Loan
At least three years experience as a pre-K-12 classroom teacher or school counselor in a public or private school
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
A valid teaching license or a license to practice as a school counselor
A teacher to be paid entirely from state funds
Three full years of teaching in the North Carolina Public Schools
A Standard Professional II NC license
No previous use of state funds for the NBC process
Engagement in direct classroom instruction, library/media or school counseling work 70% of the time over the course of the academic year

28. North Carolina Support Past and Present
Paid the $2,500 assessment fee
Provided up to three days of paid professional leave
Provided 15 CEUs for completion of the process
Paid salary differential of 12% of base salary
Present
Lend the $1,900 assessment fee
Provide up to three days of paid professional leave
Provide 7.5 CEUs for completion of the process
Pay salary differential of 12% of base salary

29. Loan Details Annual Percentage Rate 3.0% The cost of your credit as
a yearly rate.
Amount Financed
$1,900.00
The amount of credit provided
on your behalf.
Finance Charge
$116.00
The dollar amount the credit
will cost you.
Total Payments
$2,016.00
The amount you will have paid after making all payments as scheduled.
Payment Number 36
Payment Amount
$56.00
Payments Due
1st day of each month beginning thirteen months after funds are disbursed

30. The 2014-2015 NC-NBC Application Process
APPLY FOR NBC Apply for NBC at Pay the $75 non-refundable annual registration fee Apply for the NC-SEAA Loan at
SIGN THE
LOAN NOTE
Wait for an from the NC-SEAA
Create an account with the NC-SEAA and sign the online Promissory Note
Wait for 12 months to begin repayment of the loan
BEGIN THE
PROCESS
While you wait for the loan to process, download your materials, free of charge, from
Begin the ePortfolio
Process
Make an appointment for the Assessment Center
SUBMIT THE
ASSESSMENT
Submit the ePortfolio
April – May 16, 2015
Complete the Assessment Center Exercises January - June 15, 2015
WAIT FOR YOUR SCORES
Scores are released late November
Payment is due on the 1st day of each month beginning thirteen months after state funds are disbursed

31. 2014-15 Candidates for Field-Testing www.boardcertifiedteachers.org
Scheduling for 2014 testing appointments will start in April, 2014
Immediate focus: Content Knowledge
– Participants will test on 2 separate dates
– Total testing time is projected to be 2 hours in spring, plus 1.5 hours in the fall
Coming in 2015! Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
Coming in 2016! Reflective and Effective Practitioner
Apply for field testing opportunities at:
Volunteer to Participate in National Board Field Tests
The National Board is seeking PreK-12 teachers, both National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and non-NBCTs, to volunteer to participate in field tests of the revised National Board Certification process. Over the next three years, we are looking for teachers in all subject areas and developmental levels corresponding to National Board certificate areas.
This is an opportunity for you to help shape the future of National Board Certification for the benefit of the profession. The National Board will use the results of the field tests to refine and validate the planned revisions to the certification process.

32. Before You Apply for NBC
Study the NBPTS standards for your certificate area
Read the portfolio instructions for your certificate area
Analyze and reflect upon your personal and professional time to commit to the process
Identify your resources for support

33. North Carolina National Board Coordinator
Dr. Sonja Brown
(office)
(fax)