Prospective applicants for National Board state fee support must attend ONE of five orientation sessions scheduled in March, April, and May, 2003. There is one central meeting in Little Rock and four sessions in different regions of the state. There is no cost to attend an orientation, and lunch is provided. Check-in at an orientation is 9 to 9:30 a.m., with a general session beginning at 9:30 a.m. Two registration forms with other details are attached to this memorandum. A registrant uses the appropriate registration form based on the choice of orientation date. The format is identical for all orientations.
ONLY ATTENDEES AT ONE OF THE ORIENTATIONS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR STATE FUNDING OF THE NBPTS CANDIDATE APPLICATION FEE of $2,300. The deadline to apply for state fee support is Tuesday, July 1, 2003.
The Arkansas Department of Education offers the following for National Board candidates accepted for state support: candidate fee payment of $2,300, three days of substitute pay for portfolio preparation, and an annual incentive bonus once certified. The Department funds neither substitute pay nor travel expenses related to orientation attendance.
A teacher qualifies to seek state support only if he or she holds a standard Arkansas teaching license, has taught in an Arkansas public school system at least three years prior to candidacy, currently teaches in an Arkansas public school classroom, has an area of certification corresponding to current teaching assignment, and attends an orientation. There are other criteria, but these are basic to any candidacy. Candidates who never achieve certification must repay state funds as must certified teachers who do not comply with any legal requirements concerning teaching tenure. National Board certified teachers state that a conservative estimate of the time required by this process is 250-300 hours.
There are approximately twenty-five different areas of certification. Candidacy information can be accessed through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards web site at www.nbpts.org. Additional information about the state support program is available on the ADE web site at http://arkedu.state.ar.us/teachers/national_board_cert_p1.html.
If a registrant is confirmed at an orientation, does not cancel, and does not attend, the registrant will automatically be placed on a waiting list for future orientations and included in the orientation only after the deadline has passed should there be places available. No-show registrants have resulted in the unnecessary expenditure of approximately $2,500 in NBPTS funds over the past two years through unnecessary lunch and meeting room costs.
Questions about the state support program can be directed to Barbara Patty, NBPTS Program Advisor, bpatty@arkedu.k12.ar.us or 501-682-1146. Orientation dates and registration deadlines are listed in the attachments.