New Studies Show Significant Gains in Student Achievement
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Over 100 New Arizona
Teachers Gain National
Board Certifications
In 2012, 107 Arizona teachers achieved
National Board Certification, bringing the total
number of National Board Certified Teachers
(NBCTs) statewide to 957. Nationally, Arizona
ranks 19th in the total number of NBCTs and
13th in the number of new NBCTs.
NBCTs earn this certification through an
intensive, multi-year process of standards-based
performance assessment and peer review. The
rigor of National Board Certification is comparable to that of certification processes for the
medical, legal, and other major professions.
Formed in 1987 as the profession's platform
for setting standards for accomplished practice, and to identify outstanding teachers, the
independent, nonprofit National Board has
developed the nation's highest teaching standards, which lead to improved teaching, leading
and learning. While state teacher credentialing
programs set the basic requirements to teach in
each state, National Board Certification is the
profession's representation of what it means for
teachers to demonstrate advanced knowledge,
skills, and practices.
Number of Board-Certified Teachers
Tops 100,000
This past year the highly regarded National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards
surpassed a significant milestone of nationwide
growth—100,000-plus accomplished teachers.
There are now National Board Certified
Teachers successfully advancing student outcomes in all 50 states, with the largest number
of NBCTs in North Carolina, Washington, and
Illinois. Nationally, the number of NBCTs has
increased by 60 percent in the past five years.
Eleven states have more than doubled the number of NBCTs in the past five years—Arkansas,
Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia,
Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico,
Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming.
Research Findings Show Impressive
Results
In addition, new findings from Harvard
University's Center for Education Policy
Research affirm the strong positive impact of
Continued on page 26
National Board Certification Financing
State Subsidy
AEA works in partnership with the Arizona K-12 Center,
Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton College of
Education, and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE)
to support candidates seeking this advanced certification
through the Arizona State Subsidy Program. This program,
made possible through annual appropriations from the
United States Congress, provides funds to a limited number
of candidates in each state to help offset the assessment
fee. Subsidies will be awarded to candidates in high-need
areas first, and preference will be given to those who have
completed a pre-candidacy course. Visit the ADE website
at www.ade.az.gov/asd/NBCert for more information.
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Scholarship
The AEA Teacher Development Fund offers scholarships to teaching professionals who pursue National Board
Certification, the highest professional achievement in teaching. Download the application from the AEA website at
www.arizonaea.org/assets/document/nbc_scholarship.pdf.
Loan
NEA Member Benefits provides and affordable to finance
certification with the National Board Certification Loan®.
You can work the cost of getting certified or re-certified into
your budget thanks to this special revolving line of credit
from NEA Member Benefits, through Bank of America. For
more information, visit the NEA MB website at www.neamb.
com/finance/national-board-of-certification-standards-certification-financing.htm or call 1-800-637-4636.
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