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Dear NBCTs,
It's been a while since our last NBCT update and we have several items to share with you. Please see below for pertinent information on:
- Post-Score Release Info
- State Appropriated Funds for NBCT Bonuses & Conditional Loans
- Regional Coordinator Contractor Openings
- OSPI Cohort Facilitator Training
- Professional Development Opportunities for NBCTs & Candidates
Congratulations!
Scores for National Board submissions in the 2023-2024 school year were released by NBPTS on December 7, 2024. Congratulations to all 307 newly certified NBCTs and 708 recertified NBCTs!
According to NBPTS, Washington's rank among all states is:
- #4 in newly certified NBCTs (307)
- #2 in renewed NBCTs (708)
- #3 in total NBCTs ever certified (12,432)
- #2 in currently active, unexpired NBCTs (8,644)
- #1 in percentage of total state educators with NBCT (11.38%)
- 5 state universities in the top 20 NBCT alma maters (UW, Western, Central, WSU, Eastern)
State Operating Budget & NBCT Bonus Proviso
Though we had experienced a challenging start to this year's legislative session with the governor's proposed budget "pausing" NBCT bonuses, the state legislature has moved in the direction of retaining NBCT bonuses over the next biennium. Both passed budget measures ESSB 5167 (Senate) and SHB 1198 (House) maintain NBCT bonuses. Keeping the bonus program intact also allows OSPI to continue issuing conditional loans to educators pursuing initial candidacy.
The retention of NBCT bonuses by the legislature can be credited in large part to the efforts of our partner organizations at the Washington Education Association (WEA) and the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP). However, the most impactful contribution came from NBCTs and educators who used their voice to demonstrate why pursuing National Board Certification and serving as a NBCT is invaluable.
Negotiations on a final budget bill will continue over the following weeks. The legislature has until April 27 to enact a state operating budget. The bill then must be signed by the governor in order to become law.
NBCT Regional Coordinator Contractor Posting
OSPI has posted a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to contract with 9 NBCTs to lead as Regional Coordinators for the 2025-2026 school year and with contract renewal options over the following 4 years. Regional Coordinators are NBCT leaders contracted with OSPI to offer regional National Board support to all school districts within Washington Educational Service Districts (ESDs). The Regional Coordinator team is a resource for cohort facilitators, NBCTs, candidates, and educators who are interested in learning more about the National Board process. This also includes the universities, education associations or UniServ councils, and non-profits working within these regions.
Our goal is to bring National Board support to each ESD region within the state. Bidders are not required to be located or working within the ESD region as this work is almost entirely remote. Approved contractors are compensated monthly as based on completion of a set of outlined deliverables (10 months, excluding December and July).
Review the RFQ on the OSPI competitive procurements webpage and submit application materials or questions to the OSPI contracts office at contracts@k12.wa.us. (Note: while you should read the entire RFQ, the proposal just requires that you submit an updated resume and letter of interest detailing how you meet the minimum and desired qualifications)
OSPI will host a pre-bid conference to answer your questions and provide more details about the Regional Coordinator role live on April 16 at 4:00 PM via Zoom. Proposals must be submitted no later than 3:00 PM on June 4. Contracts are scheduled to begin August 1.
OSPI National Board Facilitator Training - June 25-27
Are you interested in helping your colleagues become National Board-certified? Do you have knowledge about the National Board assessment process you'd like to pass onto others? Do you want to add to the burgeoning number of NBCTs active in Washington state? You might consider becoming a NBCT cohort facilitator!
All Washington state National Board candidates have access to cohort facilitators, who are experienced NBCTs that have received training through OSPI. To ensure consistency across the state, NBCTs are asked to participate in Facilitator Training prior to hosting a cohort group. Additionally, OSPI will only approve cohorts that are facilitated by trained facilitators, allowing candidates in the cohort to access OSPI's Conditional Loan. This training hones facilitation knowledge and skills, provides a deeper understanding of the revised National Board process, as well as develops skills in working with adult learners.
Facilitator Training will take place on Wednesday, June 25, through Friday, June 27, from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM each day. To be considered an approved facilitator, you must attend all three days. Register for Facilitator Training here!
Training is entirely online and free of charge. Participants receive 12 free clock hours from OSPI. This year's training will feature the incorporation of guidance on generative AI usage by both candidates and the NBCT facilitators providing feedback to them. Already-trained facilitators are welcome to attend for a "refresher".
WEA Supports for Initial & MOC Candidates
The WEA will be hosting several professional development opportunities this spring and summer for candidates either already pursuing National Board Certification or interested in starting their journey, as well as NBCTs beginning the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process.
National Board Information Sessions
Educators looking for more information on National Board Certification should check out the Information Session Series this spring. This series is intended to cover the assessment process, standards, and next steps. The series is broken into three parts with registration for each session found below:
National Board Jump Start
National Board Jump Start is a comprehensive, multi-day seminar designed to provide National Board candidates with important information about the certification process, time to examine component and Assessment Center requirements, the opportunity to plan how to meet requirements, and time to collaborate, gather resources and information needed to pursue certification. All this happens in a supportive, constructive and collegial environment.
There are a total of six (6) training modules that will be offered each training week. Registration fee is $75 and open to WEA members only. Foundations I is a required entry course. Select as many of the remaining 5 modules (C1, C2, C3, C4, Foundations II) as you like for the flat $75 Registration fee. Up to 30 WEA Clock Hours can be earned for attending all 6 modules.
- June 23 - 27, 2025
- August 4 - 8, 2025
Save the date! Registration will be posted on the WEA website.
MOC Work Sessions
WEA offers three Work Sessions to help you pursue your National Board MOC. Each Session offers a different focus to guide you through this process. Each Session is interactive with breakout rooms and time for questions. MOC Training is available for all WEA Members. Course fee is $25 per module.
Currently, Work Session III on April 19 at 4:30 PM-6:30 PM is the only session available.
Work Session III: Feedback and Support for your MOC work. Participants will share a draft of one PGE and give and receive feedback on their work. This module is 2 hours. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Registration closes on Tuesday, April 15th.
Please reach out to Jennifer Wolf at jwolf@washingtonea.org if you have questions or need further information on WEA events.
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