1. What is involved in the certification process?

2. Who funds the National Board?

3. What should I do if I need special accommodations for a disability?

4. When will other certificates be available?

5. Whom can I contact about pilot testing?

6. What will I need to do to renew my certificate?

7. What is the difference between an Assessment and Scoring Kit and a Portfolio Sampler?

8. Are there any samples of previously scored portfolios available?

9. Can teachers other than National Board Certified Teachers work as assessors in scoring the portfolios?

1. What is involved in the certification process?

Assessments are based on the NBPTS Standards in each of the certificate areas. All NBPTS assessments consist of two major parts, the portfolio entries and the assessment center exercises. While the specific directions to candidates vary from one assessment to another, the major parts of the assessments are stable over all certificate areas currently offered.

Candidates put together a portfolio according to specifications given in the directions and materials sent to them. The portfolio consists of several different entries, each of which asks for direct evidence of some aspect of the teacherÃs work and an analytical commentary on that evidence. There are four different classroom-based entries, two of which ask candidates to videotape classroom interactions, and two of which ask candidates to collect student work of particular kinds. In all four classroom-based entries, candidates are required to write a detailed analysis of the teaching reflected in the videotape or student work.

In addition to completing the classroom-based entries, candidates are required to document their work outside the classroom with families and the larger community and with colleagues and the larger profession. In these entries, which emphasize the quality of the contributions rather than the quantity, candidates are asked to show evidence of their accomplishments and then comment on the impact and importance of those accomplishments.

The assessment center portion of the process consists of a full day of assessment exercises that are focused on pedagogical content knowledge. This written assessment asks candidates to respond to specific prompts, some of which may be based on stimulus materials that are sent out to candidates well in advance of the assessment center date. The exercises may be simulations of situations to which teachers typically must respond or explorations of particular questions on pedagogical content topics and issues.

All of the assessment center administrations take place by appointment. Each appointment (for first-time candidates) for an NBPTS assessment is eight (8) hours, with six (6) hours of actual assessment and two (2) hours for check-in, tutorials, collection of background information and breaks. The assessment center exercises are administered at more than 300 testing centers across the United States during the summer on a schedule that typically allows several weeksà availability for each certificate. All candidates have the choice of handwriting or using a word processor to produce responses to the assessment center exercises. Candidates who choose to use the word processor will be provided a tutorial to familiarize them with its features and functions. Using a word processor does not give candidates who choose this option an advantage over candidates who choose to hand write responses, or vice versa.

This project is funded in part with grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Through September 1999, NBPTS has been appropriated federal funds of $72.3 million, representing approximately 55 percent of the National Board Certification project. More than $58.7 million (45 percent) of the projectÃs cost will be financed by non-governmental sources.

It is the policy of NBPTS to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) regulations governing both facilities and administration. If you have a disability that necessitates an accommodation under the ADA for either the portfolio or assessment center portion of the National Board Certification process, submit the Nonstandard Administration Request Form that is included in the Verification Kit mailed to you upon receipt of your application. In order to give NBPTS sufficient time to evaluate your request for an accommodation, submit your request for special accommodations during the 2000-2001 cycle by January 31, 2001.

Certificates in Early and Middle Childhood/Art, Early and Middle Childhood/Physical Education, and Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood/Physical Education will be offered during the 2000-2001 cycle, with portfolios being available in December 2000. Certificates in Foreign Language, Library/Media, and Music are scheduled to be offered in the 2001-2002 cycle, with portfolios available in December 2001. Work is beginning on developing standards for the Early and Middle Childhood/English Language Arts Certificate (incorporating reading specialists) and the Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood/Health certificate.

For information about pilot testing, contact Melissa Nolan at 800-779-3339 x5312, Fax - (609) 734-5450, or E-mail: mnolan@ets.org.

NBPTS is currently developing specific procedures for certificate renewal. Candidates may begin the renewal process within two years prior to the expiration date of their certificate. Along with payment of the renewal fee, candidates must submit evidence attesting to engagement in each of the five core propositions. The renewal requirements will apply to National Board Certified Teachers named through 2001.

An Assessment and Scoring Kit contains the instructions for all six portfolio entries for one certificate area, the scoring rubrics and materials for that certificate area, and the Standards booklet for the area. A Portfolio Sampler contains one or two portfolio entries from more than one certificate area, grouped together by the developmental level of the students. There are three different Portfolio Samplers available: the Generalist Portfolio Sampler, the Early Adolescence Portfolio Sampler, and the Adolescence and Young Adulthood Portfolio Sampler. Samplers do not contain sample candidate responses.

Not at this time. NBPTS is considering the possibility of publishing professional development materials that would include samples of portfolio entries, but these materials will not be available in the immediate future.

The majority of assessors are actually not National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs); however, NBPTS is working to incorporate as many NBCTs into the scoring process as possible. The number of NBCTs varies for each certificate and is not yet sufficient in terms of supplying an adequate number of assessors for each certificate area. Remember that scoring offers invaluable professional development to teachers who have not yet gone through the National Board Certification process. Assessors report they are changed by the process, having been exposed to a wide variety of teaching styles. Finally, each scoring cycle confirms that the NBPTS scoring instrument works for both NBCTs and non-NBCTs.

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