For immediate release
Jan. 8, 2018
NC RETAINS TOP RANK IN NUMBERS OF NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS
North Carolina
continues to lead the nation in numbers of teachers who have earned
certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, with
616 additional teachers gaining the endorsement last month from the Arlington,
Va., based organization.
Nearly 21,500
teachers in North Carolina have attained national certification, which is based
on a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to
three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors
should know and be able to do.
Nationally, 5,470
teachers earned certification in 2016-17, raising the total among all states to
more than 118,000. In addition, almost 3,957 teachers nationally achieved
recertification, including 890 board-certified teachers in North Carolina.
North Carolina
Superintendent Mark Johnson said the national certification is significant not
only for the teachers who earn the credential but also for the students whom
they teach.
“Our state’s
students are the winners when their teachers invest the time and effort to meet
the demanding standards of national certification,” Johnson said. “The
certification process helps teachers strengthen their practice to be highly
effective educators in their classrooms and able instructional leaders in their
schools.”
North Carolina
accounts for nearly one fifth (18 percent) of all teachers nationally who are
certified by the teaching standards organization. Florida ranks second with
13,559 (11.5 percent of national total) followed by Washington (10,018), South
Carolina (9,024) and California (6,755).
Nationally
certified teachers also account for a larger percentage of the total teaching
force in North Carolina than any other state, with 21.6 percent having earned
the credential. South Carolina ranks second, with 18 percent.
North Carolina
school districts also continue to rank among the top 20 districts nationally
for numbers of teachers with national certification: Wake County remained first
with 2,631; Charlotte-Mecklenburg is fourth with 2,033; Guilford County is
ninth with 768; Buncombe County is 17th with 563; and Winston-Salem/Forsyth is
18th with 562.
The NBPTS also
ranked the top 50 public and private universities and colleges with the highest
number of alumni with the national credential. Nine North Carolina universities
or colleges made the top 50: Appalachian State University was first with 2,049,
East Carolina University, second with 2,027; the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, fourth with 1,350; the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, fifth with 1,335; the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, eighth
with 1,195; North Carolina State University, 18th with 891; Western Carolina
University, 20th with 863; the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 21st
with 826; and Meredith College, 46th with 442.
Teachers in
North Carolina who achieve certification receive a 12 percent salary supplement
to their regular pay that is good for the 10-year life of the certification.
They also are awarded eight continuing education credits (CEUs).
North Carolina
supports teachers pursuing national certification by providing low-interest
loans to pay the $1,900 assessment fee and three paid release days from normal
teaching duties for new candidates to develop their portfolios. Also, the State
Board of Education awards a North Carolina teaching license to out-of-state
teachers who are employed in North Carolina and who possess the national
certification.
Certification by
the National Board is the highest credential in the teaching profession, and
participation is voluntary. As a part of the certification process, candidates
build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes
and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Certification is currently
available to educators in 25 fields.
The National
Board in 2014-15 revised its certification process to make it more flexible and
affordable while maintaining the same rigorous standards. Teachers can still
earn certification in one year but can choose to take several years depending
on their personal circumstances. The overall cost has decreased and candidates
may pay for and submit each component separately.
Additional
information about the national certification is available online.
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