The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the non-profit organization that awards certification, was formed in 1987 to set standards for teachers and to identify the really outstanding ones. According to Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research, a recent study of the Los Angeles public schools affirm the strong, positive impact of NBCTs. Those researchers found that, on average, teachers with national Board Certification "significantly outperformed peers with the same level of experience."
To receive certification, teachers must submit a four-part portfolio and a six-exercise content and pedagogy assessment. The 10 entries document a teacher’s success in the classroom as measured by the success of his or her students. The portfolio is then assessed by a national panel of peers.
Washington has the 4th-highest total number of NBCTs - 6, 817. 38 of our 39 counties have at least one teacher who has been certified.
