National Board Certification

  • Guidelines for Participation in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification Program

    The District-ATA Contract formalizes support for participation by the teaching faculty in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification Program. This is a high quality professional development program that recognizes the importance of a teacher’s knowledge, competence and skill in enhancing the teaching and learning processes. The NBPTS has been in existence for a number of years, and it has received formal recognition and support by a number of states, including New York. The purpose of this website is to provide you with guidelines that have been developed that implement the NBPTS program in Arlington. 

    An important component of the certification program in Arlington is the creation of the role of “Candidate Support Provider,” which was also established in the recent contract. Along with the NBPTS program guidelines, attached is a role description for the Candidate Support Provider. Several Arlington teachers have already achieved National Board Certification, and a number of additional teachers are either formally or informally participating in the NBPTS certification program during this school year. If you would like to learn more about the NBPTS program, please go to www.nbpts.org.  

    Please feel free to contact Dr. Daisy Rodriguez at drodriguez1@acsdnyr.og should you have any questions regarding the above or the attached information. 

    NBPTS Candidates

    Prior to certification 

    NBPTS candidates are encouraged to participate in information sessions or workshop opportunities that explain the NBPTS process and application for candidacy. Should a NBPTS candidate participate in an informational program or workshop for which there is a charge, the teacher will be reimbursed the cost of such session or workshop if approved in advance by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee. Such programs will not be considered for in-service credit.
    • The District will also provide informational sessions through its NBPTS Candidate Support Provider program, in which Arlington staff can participate on a voluntary basis.
    • NBPTS candidates will formally inform the building principal of his/her candidacy for National Board Certification by completing an Arlington National Board Certification Candidacy Form found on MyLearningPlan.  The form will be routed to the building principal for signature and will then be forwarded to the Office of Professional Development.

    Support during Certification Process

    • The District shall provide loaned material and equipment necessary in the NBPTS certification process
    • During the certification process, the Arlington Central School District may offer NBPTS certification candidates the opportunity to participate in a facilitated “support group.” This support group will be led by an Arlington teacher who has attained National Board Certification or who is recognized as an accomplished teacher and who has registered with NBPTS as a “Candidate Support Provider” (see below). In-service credit will not be granted to National Board Certification candidates who participate in the Candidate Support Provider Program.

    Upon Completion of Certification

    • Celebrate and be recognized!
    • Candidates will submit a program completion certificate from the NBPTS to Office of Professional Development. An additional $3,000 (non-cumulative) stipend will be added to your scheduled salary, as indicated in the ATA contract.
    • Graduate credits applied for and awarded by the American Council on Education as part of the NBPTS certification process will be accepted by the District if such credits are recognized by a graduate institution of higher education (i.e., New Paltz, Marist, Teachers College, Columbia University, Seton Hall University etc.) and a graduate transcript is presented from such an institution. A maximum of nine graduate credits will be recognized by the District. The District will not award in-service credits for any credits awarded by the ACE that result from the successful completion of the NBPTS process.
    • Teachers who complete the NBPTS process but who do not achieve certification shall be responsible for any NBPTS certification application fees that they might otherwise seek in future years. Such candidates, however, will be awarded 3 credits for their participation in the NBPTS program, either through ACE credits or Arlington in-service credits if they decide to discontinue their pursuit of NBPTS certification.
    • Candidates for NBPTS certification who do not achieve certification and take additional time to complete the certification will continue to be supported in the Candidate Support Provider program, but on a modified basis.

    Candidate Support Provider for Teachers Seeking National Board Certification

    Role Description

    • Qualifications for a Candidate Support Provider include possessing National Board Certification or being recognized as an accomplished teacher
    • A Candidate Support Provider shall be an annual appointment based upon an annual posting related to such. It is desired that the candidate support provider role be rotated among qualified staff members from year to year
    • A Candidate Support Provider will provide support to teachers actively seeking National Board Certification based upon the guidelines delineated by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
    • Teachers actively seeking National Board Certification shall be those teachers who are registered with NBPTS and in good standing with NBPTS as an enrolled candidate with an identification number. Candidate Support Providers shall register with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
    • Support shall be provided in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to seminars, group meetings, individual meetings with candidates, review of candidate materials and e-mail and telephone contacts.
    • There shall be at least three meetings of all the teachers in a cohort participating in the National Board Certification process, with such meetings providing the opportunity for the teachers to reinforce their cohort experience
    • The Candidate Support Provider role is one that extends from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year.
    • While it is recognized that a Candidate Support Provider works best with a cohort of a reasonable number, the District will strive to maintain a cohort of 15 or fewer teachers, with a minimum of 7 teachers.
    • As per the District-ATA Contract, a stipend of $3000 will be provided to the Candidate Support Provider for working with each cohort. One-half of the stipend will be paid in December, and the remaining one-half by June 30
    • Candidate Support Providers shall be aware of non-District financial resources available to candidates, as well as other NBPTS certified teachers in the region who can provide guidance in the various certification areas.
    • Candidate Support Providers will provide two information sessions for teachers considering applying to the NBPTS program