The study was designed to identify specific components of teacher excellence, focusing initially on the characteristics of the small number of teachers of the deaf who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), then comparing those with the characteristics of other teachers identified as master teachers by…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether, according to teachers who have taught in more than one state and have had to fulfil various state requirements for certification, standards for either teacher certification or teacher preparation should be revised to reflect a more uniform system. Data were collected from questionnaires completed…

Teaching is at the heart of education, and the single most important action the nation can take to improve schools is to strengthen teaching. A national certification system that reliably identifies teachers who meet high and rigorous standards can galvanize the entire system. In this volume, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards…

New Jersey provides a unique context from which to explore the issue of preschool teacher certification and preparation because of the 1998 and 2000 Supreme Court decisions related to the Abbott districts. These decisions ruled that the 30 poorest districts were to create systems of high-quality preschool for all 3- and 4-year-old children…

There is an acute need to improve the quality of classroom teachers through improved standards for preservice programs and licensure and certification, especially in the middle grades. Several Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states are working to improve middle grades teacher quality. Some are raising standards on teacher licensure tests.…

Describes the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS), addressing the types of certification available to teachers and the NBPTS propositions. Discusses the procedures for NBPTS certification and the types of certification areas for elementary social studies teachers. (CMK)

The educational system in Mexico has undergone important changes in recent decades. One of the most important took place in 1993, when the compulsory character of secondary school (ages 12-15) was established. National In-service Courses (NICs) were established as a way to bring curricular changes proposed in the reform near to the teachers. The…

National Board Certification is intended to indicate that "a teacher is judged by his or her peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about students' best interests, and acts effectively on those judgments." This author, the first National Board Certified Art Teacher in Georgia, offers a first-hand perspective…

In this paper, we describe the results a study assessing the relationship between the certification of teachers by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and elementary level student achievement. We examine whether NBPTS assesses the most effective applicants, whether certification by NBPTS serves as a signal of teacher…

National Board Certification is a voluntary process established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to measure what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Certification is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes between one and three years to complete. As of November 2004,…

This paper reports on the progress of a Nevada Teacher Enhancement grant, Reinventing Teacher Preparation and Licensing through Performance-Based Reform in Nevada, toward meeting its stated goals in the first year. The goals are: (1) Nevada will use performance-based licensing for licensing teachers; and (2) Nevada will have National Board of…

A public school teacher discusses how the process of attempting to earn National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification was an extremely enriching experience, despite the fact that he did not earn the certification. Two of the most significant lessons he learned from the process were making time to reflect on the work of teaching…

Examines two approaches to teacher education reform: (1) decentralization and (2) a national bureaucratic strategy to adopt uniform standards for teacher accreditation, mandate curricular requisites, and legislate policies governing teacher professional development. The paper explains that teacher education must prepare teachers to work in the…

This book examines the appropriateness and technical quality of teacher licensure tests currently in use, evaluating teacher licensure tests and examining the use of tests to hold states and institutions of higher education accountable for the quality of teacher preparation and licensure. It also suggests alternatives for developing and assessing…

Presents one administrator's perspective on the importance of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), describing the history of NBPTS certification in Colorado, discussing her experiences as a school administrator supporting teachers through NBPTS certification, examining the NBPTS's five core propositions, describing the…