History
Founded in 1987, after a task force from the Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy proposed that teachers, like doctors, should have their own voluntary process of national certification, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was established as a voluntary national system of certification based on high and rigorous standards for accomplished teaching. Its primary purpose was to advance the teaching profession and improve student learning.
In time, National Board Network Affiliates were established to serve as coalitions of NBCTs who impact teaching and learning in their schools and districts by supporting quality teaching, promoting high standards of learning and advocating for National Board Certification. The National Board Council of New York (NBCNY) was established by NBCTs Annette Romano (Niskayuna CSD) and Trudy Bantle (Fairport CSD) as an NBPTS network affiliate in the fall of 2007. It was created to provide the overarching structure and vehicle for communication about National Board Certification throughout New York State. Since its founding, it has helped more than 2,100 teachers in New York State achieve National Board Certification and trained over 300 facilitators to guide cohorts across the state.
Today, National Board Certification is a symbol of professional teaching excellence, which complements, but does not replace state licensing. While state licensing systems set entry level standards for beginning teachers, National Board Certification establishes advanced standards for experienced teachers. Nationally, more than 125,000 teachers have achieved National Board Certification as a way to gain professional recognition, improve their teaching skills and in some states gain financial incentives.