National Board Certification For You? And for You in the 2008 – 2009 School Year?

National Board CertificationFor You? And for You in the 2008 – 2009 School Year? Website: http://www.nbpts.org Toll-free: 1-800-22TEACH Current as of November 20,2007

First Things First Have you determined if … • There is a certificate that matches your teaching assignment? and • You meet the eligibility criteria?

Pre-Candidacy Support • The success rate of candidates has increased since NBC Boot Camp began. • The success rate for the 2006 – 2007 candidates is the highest ever for Delaware and exceeds the national average. • This year, we have expanded our pre-candidacy requirements.

Requirements for DOE Financial Assistance and Support • Attendance at one Awareness Meeting • Participation in all three Pre-Candidacy Workshops (Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 8) • Completion of work after the Pre-Candidacy Workshops • Participation in the full session of NBC Boot Camp (July 29-31)

DOE Financial Assistance and Support • The preceding requirements apply to those interested in DOE financial assistance for first-time assessment fees and/or for retake assessment fees and all other support services. • The preceding requirements also apply to self-paying candidates who want a DOE-supported NBCT facilitator and all other DOE support services.

Financial & Other Assistance • Some districts offer financial assistance or reimbursement. • Some districts offer other forms of assistance, such as professional development days, reimbursing for shipping the portfolio, access to laptop computers.

Assessment Fees • Has been $2,500 with the initial $500 being non- refundable. • $65 application fee, also non-refundable • For the past years, DOE has had a loan program to assist with the assessment fee. • The Dept. of Veterans Affairs offers financial assistance to eligible veterans. • The NEA and AFT offer loans to members.

Application Procedure • The applications for DOE financial assistance, Pre-Candidacy Workshops, and NBC Boot Camp will be on the DOE website. • Follow the directions. • Prospective candidates may wait until the completion of NBC Boot Camp before making a decision about candidacy.

What is Going on in Your Life? • Working • Other school responsibilities; grading papers • Spending time with significant others, family & friends • Religious commitments • Exercising, hobbies, vacations • Sleeping • ??????????

What is a Typical Week for You? • Quickly sketch out a typical week. • Be honest and comprehensive! • Include the lot: all work related activities as well as commuting time, preparing meals, household responsibilities, child care responsibilities, television viewing, communicating with those important to you (e-mail, telephone) ….

What Changes Can You Make? • To whom are you going to tell “No”? • What can you give up? • What can come off the plate? • Are you prepared to make difficult decisions? Why ask these questions?

Here is Your NBPTS Portfolio! Estimated time to complete the entries: 200 – 400+ hours • This is AT LEAST 26 to 53 full-time work days (based on a 7.5 hour day). • For the past several years, the portfoliois due to the NBPTS on or before March 31. • How are YOU going to find the time?

Portfolio Preparation • Attend the Pre-Candidacy Workshops. • Attend Boot Camp. • Study the NBPTS standards (80 – 100 pages). • Carefully read ALL of the portfolio information and directions (220+ pages). • Understand the scoring criteria (75+ pages). • Carefully look at your projected 2008 -2009 calendar.

Portfolio Requirements 4 Portfolio Entries • Three entries are school or classroom-based and include videos (usually 2) that give teachers the opportunity to present a sample of their actual educational practice over a specified time period. One entry usually focuses on student learning over time.

Portfolio Requirements • One entry documents: • A teacher’s communication with students’ families and the community • The teacher’s development as a learner and as a leader/collaborator. • Everything in this entry has to contribute to student learning.

And Next is the Assessment Center Six 30-minute prompts • The assessments examine knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the NBPTS standards and across theentire age rangeof your NBPTS certificate area. • The assessments are computer administered; no handwriting allowed. • There is a strong emphasis on content knowledge.

Assessment Center • Preparation is crucial for success. • The window typically has been from July 1 to June 15. • Wait until your portfolio is completed and shipped and you have completed your study plan before you take the assessment center exercises. • However, make your appointment early. • Your assessment fee must be paid in full to schedule the appointment.

How Does the NBPTS Make theCertification Decision? • Classroom teachers (or school counselors) score the portfolio entries and assessment center responses. • The NBPTS provides rigorous training. • The assessors use the same scoring criteria available to candidates. • Each portfolio entry/assessment center response goes to different scoring centers across the US and each is scored by a different assessor.

Scoring • The final score for determining NBPTS certification is a combination of the weighted scores for each entry and each assessment center exercise. • The portfolio entries have the greatest weight. • The portfolio contributes about 60% to the total score; the assessment center about 40%.

If the Initial Score Falls Short • Candidates can retake entries and/or assessments that fall below a pre-specified score point. • The retake window is the two years immediately following the first year of candidacy. • The NBC process can take three years; some candidates do not certify within the three years. • DOE offers financial and support services to those who are eligible.

Important Resourceswww.nbpts.org All available now • 2007 Guide to National Board (2008 available later) • NBPTS Standards • Portfolio instructions • Assessment Center information & orientation • Scoring Guide

And … • Talk to NBCTs. You can search for NBCTs by district and/or certificate area at the DOE website or at the NBPTS website. • Candidly discuss your candidacy plans with your family, significant others, teacher partners, other important colleagues. They will go through your candidacy with you.

This is Important, Too … • Commit to staying in your current assignment and/or NBPTS grade level throughout your candidacy. • Candidacy may take up to three years. • If you move out of your current assignment and/or NBPTS grade level, it could be difficult to be successful. You will also be ineligible for DOE financial assistance with retake assessments and other support services.

And Please … • At no time ask a NBCT or candidate to share his or her portfolio with you; either in its entirety or in any part. • Likewise, do not ask about or discuss the actual assessment center prompts. • Doing so is a violation of the NBPTS ethics policy and consequences can be severe.

12% Salary Supplement andAdvanced License • Pending available State funds, NBCTs receive a 12% salary supplement on their base salary (state share, ~70%) and is valid for the duration of the certificate, 10 years. • NBCTs receive the Delaware Advanced License, also valid for 10 years.

For More Information … Contact your friendly DOE Patricia Bigelow Mary Ellen Kotz pbigelow@doe.k12.de.usmkotz@doe.k12.de.us 302-735-4120

National Board Certification For You? And for You in the 2008 – 2009 School Year?