Why should teachers consider National Board Certification?
Several state governments, universities and school districts are encouraging teachers to seek National Board Certification. Rewards may include full or partial fee payment, salary bonuses, and other professional incentives. Numerous teachers who have completed the certification process regard it as the most rewarding professional development activity they have undertaken. For some teachers, completing the portfolio is the first time they have systematically analyzed both what they teach and why they teach the way they do. Teachers have stated that they gained significant insight regarding their instruction and their students’ learning. Achieving National Board Certification has an impact on students’ performance. Several recent studies confirm the effectiveness of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). Research by the CNA Corporation (November 2004), by Arizona State University (September 2004), and by the University of Washington and the Urban Institute (March 2004) show that stud
