This year, Washington State ranks number 2 in the nation for the number of teachers who have received the prestigious National Teachers Board certification. The certification requires teachers to undergo 200 to 400 additional hours of training, and costs $2,565 to apply, a price covered by the state. Teachers in Washington who successfully receive certification get a $5,000 bonus each year for ten years, totalling $50,000. Board certified teachers who agree to teach in high-poverty schools also receive an additional $5,000 per year, for ten years. In Washington, 7% of teachers have received the certification.
On the Eastside, Bellevue School District ranks tenth in the nation for the number of newly certified teachers, with 64 teachers receiving the certification this year, and a whopping 27% of all teachers in the district certified. Seattle ranks 15th in the nation, with 57 new certifications, and 5.4% of all teachers certified, according to the Seattle Times.
The process of getting Board certified requires teachers to undergo extensive training and observation programs, create lesson materials, and pass a stringent exam.
Source: Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010527138_teacher17m.html
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
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