BANDERA, TEXAS -
March 9, 2010
SUBJECT: 2010-2011
National Board Certification Federal
Subsidies
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
The Texas Education Agency is pleased to
announce that federal funds for National
Board Certification are now available for
the 2010-2011 cycle for teachers,
librarians, and counselors who may be
interested in applying for the candidate
federal subsidy program.
The funds are provided through a grant from
the U.S. Department of Education through the
National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards (NBPTS) to the Texas Education
Agency and are disbursed on a first come,
first serve basis.
Priority, however, is given to teachers from
high poverty/low performing school
districts.
National Board Certification is a symbol of
professional teaching excellence.
The certification:
-
Recognizes achievement for both the
teacher and their students;
-
Strengthens and reaffirms teaching
strategies;
-
Adds credibility to the teaching
profession;and,
-
Positively impacts student learning.
National Board Certification is available in
twenty-five (25) subject areas and school
counseling. In
order to seek National Board Certification,
a teacher, librarian, or counselor must meet
the following requirements prior to
applying:
(1) Hold a bachelor's degree, (2) Have
completed three full years of
teaching/counseling experience, and (3)
Possess a valid state teaching/counseling
license for that period of time, or, if
teaching where a license is not required,
have taught in schools recognized and
approved to operate by the state.
-
First-time
candidate fees can be subsidized for up
to one-half of the $2,500 fee ($1,250
per candidate). The
application for a federal subsidy must
be submitted no later than
December 31, 2010.
-
A candidate cannot
apply for a federal subsidy until a
candidate number has been assigned by
NBPTS and an initial payment of $500 has
been made to NBPTS.
-
Federal subsidy
funds cannot be allocated to a candidate
who has previously utilized subsidy
funding.
-
Retake candidates
who have not previously received
subsidy funds can receive subsidy funds
of up to $350 per exercise for up to two
retake exercises.
Both exercises must be taken
within the same candidate cycle.
Applications for retake
candidates must be submitted no later
than January 31, 2011.
-
Federal subsidy
funds cannot be allocated to NBCTs
seeking certification renewal.
-
Federal subsidy
funds cannot be used for Take
One!® participants.
-
Some
school districts in the state offer
additional support and/or incentives for
candidates and National Board Certified
Teachers.
-
Go to:
www.nbpts.org and click on the
"Become a Candidate" tab.
Then, click on "Fees and
Financial Support."
Instructions to apply
for National Board Certification can be
found at:
www.tea.state.tx.us.
Click on the A-Z Index tab, click on
"N," then on the "National Board
Certification"link. If additional
information is needed, please email:
glendelia.zavala@tea.state.tx.us
or call (512) 463-6443.
