State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Congratulates California
Teachers Who Received Prestigious National Certification
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has granted National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT®) status to 349 California teachers.
"Teachers earning this prestigious distinction have demonstrated great skill in teaching after going through a demanding process to obtain NBCT status," said O'Connell. "I congratulate all teachers who have earned this status for their hard work, passion, and dedication to the art of teaching. Their leadership in the classroom is needed to help close the achievement gap and prepare all students for success in the future."
National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize great teachers, reward them, and increase their skills. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, NBCTs have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills, and practices. The certification process typically takes between one and three years to complete. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes, and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching, including evidence of fairness, equity, and access in meeting student needs. Teachers are also assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.
California's 349 newly certified teachers bring the statewide total of NBCTs to 4,913 or about 2 percent of the state’s teaching force. Nationwide, there are 91,000 NBCTs or about 3 percent of the nation’s teaching force. With the addition of these new dedicated and talented teachers, California comes closer to the national average. Additionally, California ranks fifth in the nation with the total number of these accomplished teachers. The top five California school districts with newly named NBCTs are:
School District | Number of | Total NBCTs |
|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Unified | 139 | 1,542 |
San Francisco Unified | 33 | 200 |
Long Beach Unified | 18 | 165 |
San Diego Unified | 15 | 180 |
Folsom-Cordova Unified | 10 | 44 |
For information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and a listing of districts that have NBCTs, please visit its Web site at National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (Outside Source). [http://www.nbpts.org/]To see if a teacher in your area has received NBCT status, please visit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: NBCT Directory (Outside Source).