Portfolios in these 12 areas will be available in early June 1999. The certification should stand as a mark of teaching excellence and quality assurance. It is an indication that, like other professionals, teachers are willing to be held accountable for their performance, as measured against benchmarks established by the profession. By encouraging reflection and collaboration and by setting high standards for practice, the National Board Certification process itself makes a powerful contribution to the professional growth of teachers. The deadline for submission of the application is November 25, 1999.
Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
Teachers know the subjects they teach, and how to teach those subjects to students. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning. Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience. Teachers are members of learning communities. Founded in 1987, the private, nonprofit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is governed by a board of local and state educators, policymakers, and others, a majority of whom are current classroom teachers.