FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Regarding 2006-2007 Financial Incentives Available for

National Board Certification

Contents:

Part 1 Legislative Provisions

Part 2 Introductory Questions ‑ Eligibility

Part 3 Questions about the Annual Award

Part 4 Questions about the Registration Fee Reimbursement

Part 5 Important Dates to Remember

Part 1: Legislative Provisions

1) Were there any legislative changes during the 2006 session?

House File 2792 appropriated funds from the state’s general fund for the entire program in the 2006-2007 fiscal year. This legislation also extended the sunset for new participants until June 30, 2007, in order to appropriately determine how NBC fits into the evolving upper career levels under the teacher quality legislation. The amount of the registration fee reimbursement and annual award is prorated if demand exceeds available appropriated funds. The legislature also provided funds for a candidate support program for NBC. Details about the candidate support program will be issued in the near future.

Part 2: Introductory Questions ‑ Eligibility

2) What is National Board Certification?

National Board Certification is a certification program designed and administered by the NBPTS. National Board Certification is available to teachers nationwide and requires candidates to demonstrate their teaching practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. Certification is for a ten‑year period. Candidates are required to participate in a two‑part assessment consisting of portfolio entries and assessment center exercises. The certification process takes approximately one year. The NBPTS requires candidates to have completed three years of successful teaching and have a valid teaching license for each of those three years.

The registration fee to apply for NBC is $2,500. There is also a $65.00 processing fee that is separate from the registration fee. Shortly after December 1, 2006, the DE will pay each eligible teacher’s initial registration fee directly to the NBPTS. The fee will not be mailed to the NBC candidate. The initial registration fee will be $1,250 or, if necessary, a prorated amount. The DE will notify all candidates of the amount paid to the NBPTS on their behalf. Candidates must mail the balance of the registration fee no later than January 31, 2007, to:

NBPTS

c/o Bank of America, Illinois

P.O. Box 99406

Chicago, IL 60693

For additional information about the certification process, contact:

NBPTS

Processing Center

PO Box 6887, MS 10-Q, Room Q941

Ewing, NJ 08628-6887

Telephone: 1-800-228-3224

Pam Pfitzenmaier

Iowa Department of Education

Grimes State Office Building

Des Moines, IA 50319-0146

E-mail: pam.pfitzenmaier@iowa.gov

Telephone: 1-515-281-3333

3) In what areas can a teacher receive certification?

In 2006-2007, certification is available in the following highlighted areas:

Certificate
		For Candidates with Students in this Age Range				Applicable Standards
Developmental Level	Discipline	3-8	7-12	11-15	14-18+	Applicable Standards
Early Childhood	Generalist					Early Childhood/ Generalist
Middle Childhood	Generalist					Middle Childhood/ Generalist
Early and Middle Childhood	Art					Early Childhood and Middle Childhood/Art
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood	Art					Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood/Art
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood	Career and Technical Education					Career and Technical Education
Early and Middle Childhood	English as a New Language					English as a New Language (ages 3-18+)
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood	English as a New Language					English as a New Language (ages 3-18+)
Early Adolescence	English Language Arts					Early Adolescence/ English Language Arts
Adolescence and Young Adulthood	English Language Arts					Adolescence and Young Adulthood/English Language Arts
Early Childhood though Young Adulthood	Exceptional Needs Specialist (for teachers of students ages birth-21+)					Exceptional Needs (ages birth-21+)
Early Childhood through Young Adulthood	Library Media					Library Media
Early and Middle Childhood	Literacy: Reading-Language Arts					Early and Middle Childhood/Literacy: Reading-Language Arts (ages 3-12)
Early Adolescence	Mathematics					Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence/ Mathematics (ages 7-15)
Adolescence and Young Adulthood	Mathematics					Adolescence and Young Adulthood/Mathematics
Early and Middle Childhood	Music					Music (ages 3-18+)
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood	Music					Music (ages 3-18+)
Early and Middle Childhood	Physical Education					Physical Education (ages 3-18+)
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood	Physical Education					Physical Education (ages 3-18+)
Early Childhood through Young Adulthood	School Counseling					School Counseling
Early Adolescence	Science					Early Adolescence/Science
Adolescence and Young Adulthood	Science					Adolescence and Young Adulthood/Science
Early Adolescence	Social Studies-History					Social Studies-History (ages 7-18+)
Adolescence and Young Adulthood	Social Studies-History					Social Studies-History (ages 7-18+)
Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood	World Languages Other Than English					World Languages Other Than English (ages 3-18+)

Please note that some of the certificates listed here may only be available on a limited basis depending on candidate demand. Future administration schedules will depend in part on candidate demand as indicated by the number of first-time applications received with payment by NBPTS as of the end of the application period each year. Visit the NBPTS Web site for updated information at www.nbpts.org.