Prospective applicants for 2005-2006 National Board candidate state fee support must attend ONE of the orientations scheduled during the 2004-2005 school year. The application deadline for state fee support is July 1, 2005. A registrant uses the registration form based on the choice of orientation date. The format is identical for all orientations.
Orientations are scheduled in Little Rock. A registration form is attached to this memorandum. Details concerning the orientation are found on the registration form itself, but attendance requires commitment of a full day. A registrant must use the appropriate form and send it to the correct place.
The Arkansas Department of Education offers the following for National Board candidates accepted for state support: candidate fee payment of $2,300 and three days of substitute teacher pay for portfolio preparation. The Department does not fund substitute teacher pay nor travel expenses related to orientation attendance. An annual incentive bonus for Arkansas National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) is awarded as long as the NBCT meets eligible criteria to receive the bonus.
ONLY ATTENDEES AT ONE OF THE ORIENTATIONS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR STATE FUNDING OF THE NBPTS CANDIDATE APPLICATION FEE. The deadline to apply for state fee support is July 1, 2005.
A teacher qualifies to seek state fee support only if he or she is licensed as an Arkansas teacher, has taught in an Arkansas public school system at least three years prior to candidacy, currently teaches in an Arkansas public school classroom, and attends an orientation. This requirement does not preclude school counselors applying for state funding. There are other criteria, but these are basic to any candidacy. Unsuccessful candidates must repay state funds as must certified teachers who do not comply with any legal requirements concerning teaching tenure following certification. National Board certified teachers state that a conservative estimate of the time required by this process is 250-300 hours.
There are approximately 25 different areas of certification. This information can be accessed through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards web site at http://www.nbpts.org/candidates/guide/2_certglance.html. Additional information about the state support program is available at the ADE web site at http://arkedu.state.ar.us/teachers/national_board_cert_p1.html.
Questions about the state support program can be directed to Michael Rowland, Professional Quality Enhancement, mrowland@arkedu.k12.ar.us or 501-682-1146. Orientation dates and registration deadlines for the Little Rock meetings are listed in the attachment. If a registrant is confirmed at a Little Rock orientation, does not attend, and does not cancel, the registrant will automatically be placed on a waiting list and included in an orientation only after the deadline has passed should he or she apply for a future Little Rock orientation.