Candidacy
Watch a YouTube Video Interview of NYS Teacher, Stephanie Jordan (Pioneer CSD) discuss National Board Certification.
Getting Started as a NBC Candidate
Begin by determining the National Board certificate area which best fits your professional goals and your practice by visiting NBPTS. Almost everything you need can be directly downloaded without cost.To be eligible for National Board Certification, educators must:
(a) hold a baccalaureate degree
(b) have at least 3 years appropriate teaching experience
(c) hold a valid state teaching certificate OR teach in a state approved private school
Getting Started Flyer with Hyperlinks
The NBPTS Question and Answer booklet is also extremely helpful to candidates and administrators as a quick overview of the process.
The NEA/AFT Guide for Candidacy has just gone virtual. This clear and concise resource has overview webpages and more indepth downloads from pre-candidacy to renewal.
Funding
Apply for National Board Certification on-line at www.nbpts.org before applying for the Shanker Grant. Record the candidate identification number and make an extra confidental copy of your $500 payment.The candidate identification number will be needed for the Shanker Grant application. "The Box" containing your NBC materials will arrive about three weeks after applying to NBPTS. Do NOT throw out the box. Your portfolio entries will be submitted in the box.The Shanker Grant administered by the New York State Education Department will cover the $2,000 cost of NBC. To be eligible Albert Shanker Grant Candidates MUST
(a) currently teach in a NYS public school
(b) hold a valid New York State teaching certificate
(c) hold tenure
(d) hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Remember to submit a copy of your proof of payment /NBPTS application with your Shanker Grant.
Debra Horton is the New York State Education Department's (SED)Program Administrator of the Shanker Grant. You can contact her directly at:
Attn: Albert Shanker Grant
Office of Teaching Initiatives
New York State Education Department
5 North, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 474-4661
Fax: (518) 473-0217
Email: dhorton2@mail.nysed.gov or TDPR@mail.nysed.gov
See below for additional funding available for retake candidates and renewal candidates.
NYSUT has lobbied on behalf of teachers for continued support of the Albert Shanker Grant. We are grateful that Albert Shanker Grant provides equal access and opportunity to pursue National Board Certification to all eligle teachers in NYS.NYSUT Fact Sheet
Local Contractual Language
Almost 240 school districts in this New York State offer support and/or incentives for candidates and National Board Certified Teachers. This PDF has been generated by NYSUT. For more information contact Melanie Pores at NYSUT.
Support
Sustained support for teachers in the certification process truly enhances the experience. A regional cohort or support group can be formed so that teachers are not working in isolation, but benefit from working with colleagues. Teachers have spoken highly of the importance of collegial support from precandidacy through achievement of certification by giving and receiving constructive feedback.
Check to see when sessons, workshops and institutes are taking place in your area See Workshop/Institute page.
Then National Board Process
Starting The Portfolio
The NEA/AFT A Guide to National Board Certification is a very useful on-line and pdf resource for candidates and candidate support providers. The National Board’s work is guided by five core propositions that articulate what teachers should know and be able to do. This expression of ideals guides the development of the National Board’s standards and assessment. Using these core propositions as a foundation, NBPTS standards further detail what constitutes accomplished teaching in 24 subject areas and for students at all stages of their development.The influence of the NBPTS standards is pervasive throughout the National Board Certification process. They form the basis for the performance-based assessments that are at the heart of the National Board Certification system. They drive the structure of the assessment exercises as well as the scoring rubrics.
Getting Started with NBC in NYS.
It is essential to download these three documents from NBPTS which are specific to your certification area:
1. The Standards
2. The Scoring Guide
Evaluation of Evidence Guide
3. The Portfolio Guidelines
Part 1 (General)
Part 2 (Specific)
Printing these with a laser printer may be helpful because these are lengthy documents.
By reading, highlighting, and summarizing the Standards, teachers begin to uncover the essential standards for their particular certification area.
Here are some great tips for candidates from our NBCT friends in Illinois.
Writing Institutes for NBC Candidates
Candidates benefit from extended, focused time to concentrate on National Board work. Many cohorts provide time in the summer to begin group work and time in the winter to work on writing portfolio entries. See workshop/institute page for a current listing of Institutes around NYS.
Writing Retreat at Minnowbrook Conference Center 2011
Assessment Center
Candidates can take the Assessment Center exericises at any time during their Assessment Window. It is important to take this portion of the process as seriously as the portfolio. It is worth 40% of the score. NBC candidates and advanced candidates benefit from collaborating with each other and discussing resources, standards, and assessment framework topics. Candidates may want to work with teachers of similar certification areas to share the scoring guide, exercise descriptions, resources, and curriculum information. The Assessment Center Guide and on-line tutorial are extremely beneficial. The NBCT Network of Illinois has developed some excellent Assessment Center resources.The Scoring Guide contains rubrics for these exercises also!
It is important to understand the NBPTS Code of Ethics as you collaborate or support other candidates.
Scoring
The Scoring Handbook from NBPTS offers many insights to the scoring process and is different from the specific certification Scoring Guides. 
Scores are released before December 31st each year.
Candidates have three years to achieve and can bank scores over 2.75.
The National Board Certificate is valid for ten years. After that, NBCTs can go through the renewal process to recertify. See NBCT to learn more about renewal.
Advanced Candidates
Retake or Advanced Candidates are teachers who continue with the process beyond the first scoring cycle. Teachers are strongly encouraged to reapply to NBPTS and continue the NBC process. In NYS if you have previously received the Shanker Grant then you may receive up to $700 to cover the cost of two retake entries (one time). You do not need to reapply for the Shanker Grant. Portfolio entries for Advanced Candidates are due on April 15th of the following year and Assessment Center exercises must be completed by June 15th. Advanced candidates often offer valuable recommendations and insights to new candidates as they continue their work in supportive collegial circles.
Take One
Take One! Provides a short-term experience with the National Board Certification process so teachers can gain familiarity and experience by completing only one entry (instead of the four required) for their certification area. “Take One!” is a new offering from NBPTS for educators interested in experiencing the highly praised professional development attributes of National Board Certification®. It is a standards- based professional development opportunity that has been built from NBPTS’ nationally respected assessment program — a program proven by independent research to contribute to the improvement of teacher quality that, in turn, impacts improved student learning.
Take One! consists of one preselected video portfolio entry from each of the 24 certificate areas of the National Board Certification assessment program. Take One! also includes a personal activity book that offers guidance on evidence-based teaching and how it fits within the architecture of an accomplished teacher’s practice. With this activity book educators will be able to practice and self-assess evidence-based teaching and reflective analysis. Download a complete list of preselected Take One! entries.
Take One! To learn more details about this option as an entry point to NBC or a school-wide professional development experience. Create a Take One! Group in your school district for an incredible job embedded professional development experience. Take One Flyer.
Take One is due April 15th each year. Because we are committing to process at least 50 Take One Applications from across New York State, the National Board Council of New York Network will be able to offer a reduced application fee of $215.00/per participant. This is a $180.00 savings/per educator. This is only available to new Take One participants who have not yet paid. We will not be able to process any refunds. All participants must go through the registration steps at NBPTS.org and submit the attached THNI Take One Registration form to mshiland@gmail.com. We will then submit the information so that the application is processed at a reduced cost. New this year....There is no high needs eligibility required. Participants may be from any school district.
Renewal
National Board Certified Teachers, if you have never before received the Albert Shanker Grant, and are, full-time, certified and tenured teacher in a New York public school, you may be eligible to receive the Shanker Grant. You will need to send your $300 deposit to NBPTS with your renewal application. Then complete the Shanker Grant application form and check the box on the bottom of the form that indicates you are a renewal candidate. Once your candidacy is verified, the NYState Education Department will provide third-party payment to directly credit your account with NBPTS in an amount up to $1,150. There are currently no other funding partners for renewal. For more information or to apply for renewal see go to nbpts.org
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