Prospective candidates for National Board certification may attend ONE of two orientation sessions scheduled on Friday, May 4 and Friday, August 3, 2001, at the Holiday Inn - Airport in Little Rock, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. There is no cost to attend a required session, and the Department will reimburse districts for substitute costs for the May meeting if an invoice is received by June 1, 2001. Lunch is provided. A registration form and a substitute reimbursement form accompany this memorandum.
APPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT THESE SESSIONS. APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE MAILED DIRECTLY TO POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.
The Arkansas Department of Education offers the following support for National Board candidates: candidate fee payment, annual incentive bonus once certified, and opportunities to train as a National Board facilitator once certified.
A teacher qualifies for state support only if he or she has taught in an Arkansas public school system at least three years prior to candidacy and continues to teach in an Arkansas public school system for two successive years following National Board certification. There are other stipulations, but these are basic to any candidacy. Unsuccessful candidates must repay state funds as must Board certified teachers who do not comply with the legal requirements concerning teaching tenure. Current National Board certified teachers state that a conservative estimate of the time required by this process is 250-300 hours.
There are approximately twenty different areas of certification. This information can be accessed through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards web site at www.nbpts.org. Questions about the state support program can be directed to Barbara Patty, Professional Quality Enhancement, bpatty@arkedu.k12.ar.us or 501-682-1146. Registration deadlines are April 24 for May 4 and July 24 for August 3. If a participant is confirmed on May 4 and does not attend, there is no guarantee that the August session will be able to accommodate the May registrant.
There are two (2) attachments to this memo.