AR 8th in new Nationally Board Certified Teachers
Another 289 Arkansas teachers earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching to make Arkansas eighth in terms of number of newly certified teachers.
This brings the total of National Board Certified Teachers in Arkansas to 1,690. Arkansas ranks ranks 15th in the total number of teachers who achieved certification over time.
The Arkansas Department of Education, as authorized by state law, pays the initial application fee for candidates who wish to become National Board Certified Teachers. Candidates, who must have three years of teaching experience, must submit portfolios including a videotape, student work and other teaching artifacts. The videotape and student work are supported by commentaries on the goals and purposes of instruction, reflections on what occurred, the effectiveness of the practice and the rationale for a candidate’s professional judgment. In addition, candidates must complete assessment center exercises, which focus on pedagogical and content knowledge. A candidate has one to three years to achieve certification, and teachers report that they spend up to 400 hours in the candidate process during the first year.
In addition to the application fees, the state pays teachers with this certification a $5,000 annual bonus for the 10-year life of the certification for a total $8.95 million. Some Arkansas school districts award additional incentives to National Board Certified Teachers.
Posted by JJT.
