Over 2,200 North Carolina teachers received National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification in 2010. The addition of this year’s class of teachers brings North Carolina’s number of NBPTS-certified teachers to 17,957; by far the largest number of NBPTS certified teachers of any state in the nation.
North Carolina has spent nearly $400 million in government support and foundation grants on NBPTS main teacher certification program, a 20-year old national initiative to improve teaching as a means to boost student learning and achievement. To date, about 30 states have financial incentives to encourage teachers to obtain NBPTS certification.
Obtaining the NBPTS certification credential is a time-consuming and expensive process. Typically a teacher can spend anywhere from one to three years obtaining certification. In addition, teachers pay a $2,500 assessment fee and often must use release time to complete projects related to certification.
North Carolina furnishes teachers with considerable financial incentives to teachers who pursue NBPTS certification. These include: three paid professional release days to work on NBPTS assessment exercises, and a $2,500 low interest loan to cover costs and fees associated with the certification process. Once NBPTS certified, teachers receive an immediate 12 percent salary differential that will be paid for the length of the 10-year certification. The salary supplement is one of the most generous in the nation.
According to the Fiscal Research Division of the North Carolina General Assembly, in 2009-10 North Carolina spent approximately $67.5 million on salary differential and applications costs for the NBPTS program.1
Certification: Is it Worth It?
NBPTS is the largest national effort to improve teaching. It has created new standards for teaching, a new system to assess certification and promoted the awarding of financial incentives by states to NBPTS-certified teachers. Has the policy worked? Has it improved teaching?
North Carolina continues to emphasize the importance of licensure, advanced degrees and additional professional certifications such as NBPTS. According to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) data, in 2009-10, 99.8 percent of all teachers had some license (i.e., vocational, bachelors, masters, doctorate or sixth year).2 However, there is little evidence in the research to suggest that licensure or certification guarantees quality teaching and improved student performance.
According to the NBPTS Web site, certification “improves teaching and student learning.” The site also mentions that NBPTS certification has been recognized as “having a positive impact on student achievement, teacher retention and professional development.” In addition, the NBPTS Web site states students of NBPTS-certified teachers do better on standardized tests than students of non-NBPTS-certified teachers.3
NBPTS proponents point to several studies that tout the benefits of NBPTS certification. A study by Goldhaber, Perry and Anthony (2003) of the Urban Institute found that on average, North Carolina students in grades 3 through 5 whose teachers were board certified scored 7 to 15 percent higher on tests than students whose teachers attempted but failed to gain certification.4 Other studies by Clotfelter, Ladd and Vigdor (2007 & 2009) appear to say NBPTS teachers are more effective but stop short of saying NBPTS improves teacher performance.5
While the results seem to support the goals of NBPTS advocates, the studies were not without their critics. According to some, what Goldhaber and Anthony really measured was effectiveness – not achievement; that is the study measured the impact of certification, not the change in student learning. Moreover, critics of the study are quick to point out that while there was a difference in results between certified and non-certified teachers, the actual difference was quite small.
Those differences are what the National Research Council (NRC) examined in a famous 2008 study. While researchers indeed detected a difference in student learning between groups, the NRC hardly offers a glowing endorsement of NBPTS when it writes in its final report:
Our review of the research, however, suggests that there is not yet compelling evidence that the existence of the certification program has had a significant impact on the field, teachers, students, or the education system6.
Why did NRC stop short? After looking more closely at the data, researchers said the actual difference on test scores for North Carolina teachers and students came down to only one point on a test with a mean score of about 150.7
Legislative Options
Today’s budget environment underscores the need to make every budget dollar count. That said: Can North Carolina afford to spend $67 million on a program whose costs rise annually and has little to show in the way of results?
One of the continued criticisms of NBPTS is the program’s lack of focus on student learning outcomes. NBPTS focuses entirely on quality teaching and fails to establish any linkage between certification and improving student achievement.
While we agree about the importance of quality teachers as a means to boosting student achievement, NBPTS certification lacks focus on student learning outcomes. The research simply fails to show a strong, consistent linkage between NBPTS certification and improved student achievement.
These findings along with the current economic climate are causing many states to rethink their support of NBPTS. Last year Education Week reported the number of states offering incentives to earn national board certification fell from 38 to 31, a 20 percent decline. Other states are still deciding whether to scale back financial incentives. 8
North Carolina lawmakers may want to consider the following options:
- Eliminate the NBPTS program and use money to develop teacher merit pay program that is incentive tied to student performance.
- Limit the number of new NBPTS certifications.
- Reduce the 12 percent salary supplement the state currently provides to new NBPTS-certified teachers. The supplement continues throughout the extent of the 10 year certification process.
- Make teachers responsible for a larger percentage of loan costs. Currently the state provides low interest loans for teachers to cover the costs associated with certification.
- Continue to pay salary supplement, but link it to student performance on achievement tests.
Source: Fiscal Research Division, North Carolina General Assembly
1See: NBPTS Application Costs, Kristopher Nordstrom, Fiscal Research Division of North Carolina General Assembly, December 2009. Available at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/resources/data/factsfigures/2009-10figures.pdf
2 See: North Carolina Public Schools: Facts and Figures: 2009-2010. Available at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/resources/data/factsfigures/2009-10figures.pdf
3National Bureau of Professional Teaching Standards web site. Information available at: http://www.nbpts.org/resources/research
4 For an expanded version of research on NBPTS see: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/4/2/7/7/pages142776/p142776-2.php
5 See:Teacher Credentials and Students Achievement Longitudinal Analysis with Student Fixed Effects, Clotfelter, Ladd and Vigdor. (2007), Sanford Institute of Public Policy, October 2007.
6 See: National Research Council Study, Assessing Accomplished Teaching: Advanced Level Certification Programs, 2008
7 For information on how researchers interpreted NRC Study see National Board Teachers Found to be Effective, Education Week, and June 11, 2008. Subscription required.
8 States Rethink Policies on National Board Teachers, Education Week, February 10, 2010. Available by subscription at: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/02/10/21nbpts_ep.h29.html?qs=NBPTS
This article is misguided and misleading. As a North Carolina teacher who is currently enrolled in the certification process, I have found that the process’ focus IS student learning. Teachers are required to analyze their own teaching methods and how those methods accomplish student learning and student progress. If a teacher is not able to illustrate their ability to design lessons and to create activities that enhance student learning, they will not earn their certification.
Lets stop trying to take away the few incentives that enhance and improve education in North Carolina. Instead, we need to focus on cutting spending in other areas that are wasteful and political by nature. I support conservative fiscal policy. I encourage and appreciate movements to improve education in North Carolina. I support free markets and free enterprise systems that are based in sound monetary policy.
I am determined to do what I can to become a better classroom teacher and I think that the NBPTS process is one of the few vehicles that we have available to us in order to do that. However, teachers in North Carolina have been underpaid and under-appreciated for a long time. We have already cut funding for our annual salary increases. Good teachers have lost their jobs due to spending cuts and lack of funding. Do we really want to take away one of the processes that improves teaching and enhances student learning? I invite you to visit our high school in Durham, NC in order to witness what happens in our classrooms on a daily basis. You may be inspired to rethink your stance on this issue.
I. . .
* completed my National Board Certification last year.
* have been teaching for 13 years in North Carolina.
* am one of 2 teachers in my school.. of some 40 teachers, who has the certification.
* haven’t had a salary raise in 3 years apart from what this certification has provided.
* have a degree in another field and entered teaching through a lateral entry process.
* want readers to understand that this certification process is not only a great process to get teachers to reflect on their teaching practice, but it is also one of the only ways (apart from acquiring advanced degrees) in the teaching profession to earn any more money. People like myself will consider other professions if there are no opportunities to move forward in the teaching profession.
Let this be a warning to vote democratic for everything in NC if you have any concerns about public schools in NC. The republicans have wanted to cut our public schools to the bone starting with our teachers salaries for years. They think they are overpaid. My wife works on average 65 hours a week to get her students where they need to be at the end of the year. Our children barely see her anymore, but there is no help at our schools, the TA’s are gone, support gone. All our teachers have left is thier time and dedication and I see so many of them putting that in. If you have any doubts about the republicans intentions then just look at that absurd 2,500 tax credit or state sponsored refund or whatever you want to call it that has passed it’s first round to put your children in a special/private school. Who puts thier kids in private school? People who have the money, so why do they need a $2,500 credit? The rich get richer and the middle class (soon to be the poor) pay for it.
Vote democratic and mabey we can salvage some of our teachers dignity and more importantly our childrens education which is being destroyed by irresponsible decisions like that tax credit.
I am nationally board certified teacher. The process made a huge difference in my effectiveness and the achievement levels of my students. People do not work hard to earn a degree like this just to have it ripped away from them. To be honest these kinds of decisions make me want to quit the profession all together. It will not be long before all of these foolish decisions and cuts leaves education in a worse mess than it is already in. We are already behind many other countries in the world. Wait until they run off all of the effective teachers from taking away what they have rightfully earned. This is such a disgrace!!!
I came into teaching at 42, a very deliberate and mature decision. In the years since I began, I have been named Teacher of the Year twice, named High School Teacher of the Year, aquired multiple certifications at my own expense, developed a well-respected program in our school and school system, and haven’t had a pay raise in 3 years. We are currently ranked nationally near the very bottom in terms of teacher compensation. We are also ranked at the very bottom in terms of being a “test frenzy state.” The research supports the well known belief among classroom teachers that standardized testing does nothing to improve the quality of instruction, the learning in the classroom, or success in life. However, NC continues to push and push and push standardization of our students. Where else in life are people all alike? We spend MILLIONS on testing each year, and to what end? If you want to curb spending and balance the budget, I suggest you begin by eliminating all but the most essential testing and allow the Nationally Board Certified Teachers to do what “our” certification commended us for doing. I agree with all the postings above. What NC is doing to public education is disgraceful and shameful. The policy of Leave No Child Untested is an absolute failure, and a complete waste of taxpayer money!!!!
By the way, Civitas is a right-wing “Tea Party” organization. Of course their data supports this! Geeeez … go back to Boston!
I agree with all the previous comments. I believe we are getting ready to turn to a dark chapter of NC Public Education. I will be looking for a school (charter)-negotiate a salary-that will honor my decisions to improve my teaching and my students’ learning. Maybe all NBCT should create their own schools and leave the public sector. Let’s see what will happen to the great equalizer of public education. I am tired of being let down. The future will continue to look bleak until we are able to realize we are abusing the students. If you do not offer incentives for teacher to be better, than you will see talented teachers leave and bad, lazy teachers stay. Is that what we want for the children?
I am a public school teacher and very proud of it. I have taught in the “charter schools” and in private schools. I was paid $25,000 maximum with no benefits in 1999-2000. I had 20 years of experience. I was amazed that most of the teachers were not certified. Only two classrooms passed their EOG’s that year. We were both certified teachers. I left and so did the other teacher, as soon as we could find jobs in public schools. It is a real mistake to give money to charter and private schools. Likewise, if NBCT incentives are removed, teachers have no incentive to earn their certification. The Republicans have it all wrong…and their children may suffer for it.
It is amazing to me that our lawmakers would even consider cutting anything else from education. I have been teaching for 15 years, received my NBPTS certification 2 years ago, and spend countless hours making sure my students receive the quality of education our children deserve. The NBPTS process is not to be taken lightly. It is countless hours of writing, documenting, recording, not to mention the rigorous tests that come along with the certification process – so we are earning our dues. When NC signed on to support our National Board teachers,they made a committment to us – what has changed??
Anyone who knows an educator, understands that we are in it for the children and definitely not the money, but we do have spouses and children to support – who, in most cases, get the short end of the bargain when our time is considered. The lawmakers should be looking at how to get us a pay raise – since we have not had one in 3 years. I don’t believe that this is a Republican or Democratic issue because if it was, we would’ve received a raise by the Democratic Senate who held control for the past 100 years.
Let’s learn to work together and put education first – then, and only then, we will all realize that everyone’s profession starts with a quality education (even our NC Senators/House of Representatives).
Teachers did this to get more money, not to become better teachers or for their students. If there was no pay increase hardly any teachers would do it. Teachers who do not get their Boards are not lazy or any less of a teacher. The pathetic attitudes of some the posters is what is wrong with our schools.
It is interesting to me that the staff of Civitas touts their degrees ( including masters) on the ” about ” page…yet they are are willing to quickly poo-poo teachers who have theirs. Double standard? Nah – just hatred of teachers, that’s all.
I would like to know what other profession is paid so poorly and yet demanded to PROVE their worth time and time again. It is a noble profession and lawmakers, web writers such as this one, and the general public seem to want to throw every single teacher under the schoolbus! How dare you suggest that the salary incentive be taken back? And replaced with what? Bonuses for adequate yearly progress. Yes, my test scores have been top notch my entire teaching career but those bonuses stopped too (remember those bonuses based on test scores, just before our salaries were frozen?). I figure good o’l NC owes quite a few teachers their high growth bonuses, however, none are holding their breath! Yes, your write up sounds like a good song and dance but everytime teachers rise to the challenges set before them, the uninformed like this article’s author yank the rug out from under them!
Jackwagons like this are what make me ashamed that I ever called myself an NC Republican. So if they take away the incentive for National Boards, and you can’t get paid for advanced degrees, then where is the incentive to grow? Oh, that’s right I forgot. Our entire pay will be based on student performance. I guess fear is supposed to be a motivating factor. I think history can attest to the fact that this tactic only works for so long.