FAQ's - Renewal of National Board Certification

1. What is Renewal? How is it different from recertification?

Renewal is based on the 5 core propositions. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) will submit evidence and write commentary that ties the evidence of their continued practice to the 5 core propositions. Recertification, by contrast, is based on the standards for a certificate area, and would require that a teacher engage in the entire NBPTS assessment all over again.

2. Who may renew?

Renewal will be available to all National Board Certified Teachers certified through the year 2001. NBCTs who have left the classroom yet desire to maintain National Board Certification may seek Renewal.

3. When will the first Renewal process be available?

It is anticipated that the Renewal criteria and process will be presented to the NBPTS board of directors for approval in October 2001 and published in November 2001. The first cohort of NBCTs may apply beginning in November of 2001. At that time, the first group of NBCTs, certified in 1994, will have entered the eighth year of certification.

4. How will Renewal be determined?

It is probable that scoring for Renewal will be based on a threshold criterion. That is, evidence linked by commentary to the National Board's 5 core propositions that meets the criterion performance level set by the NBPTS board of directors will qualify a candidate for Renewal. It is anticipated that NBCTs will assess the evidence of continued accomplished practice.

5. What happens if the threshold is not met?

NBCTs will have another opportunity to submit additional evidence and develop their commentary to meet the criterion. After the tenth year, National Board Certification is either successfully renewed or expires.

6. How are NBCTs involved in development of the Renewal process?

›In 1997, NBCTs were surveyed to determine the kind of process they would prefer for Renewal. NBCTs expressed an interest in a mini-portfolio and/or a documented accomplishments entry.
› A National Teacher Renewal Development Team, working with the developers, is charged with the development of the process. The 12 member Team consists entirely of NBCTs: 7 who are teaching in K-12 classrooms, and 5 who are no longer teaching yet continue to work in education areas.
› A 12 member Focus Group advises on the process. It consists of representatives from candidate support networks, state departments of education, school districts, as well as teacher educators, policy-makers, and education administrators.
› The proposed Renewal assessment will be sent out for expert reviews by policymakers and NBCTs. There will be continuing opportunities for NBCTs to shape the process. A Renewal update will be provided at the NBCT Annual Meetings in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
›NBCTs will be invited to Ïtry outÓ some of the activities of Renewal as development progresses. The purpose of these pilot tests is to make sure the instructions are clear and that the intended results are scorable.
› NBCTs will be trained to score the performances of their peers seeking Certificate Renewal. It is anticipated that the first panel would convene in 2002.