The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has recently made changes to the registration process and the way candidates schedule Component I testing. While these changes were made to benefit candidates, they did cause long wait times for candidates hoping to ask questions. Once again, the NBPTS is adjusting its deadlines to accommodate those who may need extra time due to these wait times. Please see the revised dates below.
*Starting on May 1, candidates will be able to schedule (or reschedule) for dates after July 15; we will email candidates on May 1 with detailed instructions.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards sent the following information to candidates. Guidance on where to address questions about test center locations or appointment availability: If you have questions about test center locations or appointment availability for Component 1 testing, please refer to the VUE website, use the live chat feature, or call VUE customer support at 1-888-288-3028. Note: due to high call volume, wait times will be longer than normal so we encourage you to look for the answers to your questions using the resources on the website. Be advised that appointment availability on a particular day varies by test center as well as test center capacity. If you encounter issues reserving an appointment, please expand your search criteria to include neighboring cities and towns. Traveling may be required in order to secure a preferred date and time. The testing window closes July 15 and appointments near the end of the testing window fill up fast. Schedule your appointment early for the best opportunity to reserve the date and location of your choice. Guidance on issues related to the new system, including such things as resetting passwords: If you are experiencing issues related to the new system, including such things as resetting your password, I encourage you to use our webform to contact us. This will save you from waiting on hold on the phone. We will respond to all questions as soon as possible. If you are not receiving the reset password email and are using your school email address as the primary email address in your National Board account, the email is likely being blocked by your school’s email server. You should ask your IT department to add the domain @useclarus.com to the safe sender’s list. You can also request to have your email address updated to a personal email address; please include the new email address when submitting your web form. The NBPTS will also send instructions about the new process for portfolio submissions soon. Keep an eye out for that information in the coming weeks.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced some changes that will impact those pursuing certification or going through renewal or Maintenance of Certification (MOC). 2020-21 Certification Cycle Component 1: April 8 - July 15, 2021 ePortfolio Submission*: May 1 - June 16, 2021 *applies to initial certification, renewal, and MOC New Processes Candidates will no longer receive Authorization to Test (ATT) emails. The NBPTS will no longer send voucher codes for ePortfolio submissions.* *applies to initial certification, renewal, and MOC More information will be available soon. Registration System Update As the NBPTS transitions to a new system, the current registration system will be unavailable from March 26 - April 8, 2021. Introduction of a Payment Plan Beginning in April, the NBPTS will offer a payment plan. The new plan is - easy to set up - allows for equal monthly installments - no interest or fees - available for both initial certification and MOC Reminder
Candidates and NBCTs are encouraged to visit the NBPTS's website frequently to stay informed about any changes. Over the weekend, the National Board released a new round of COVID-19 adjustments. Candidates now have more time to finalize their decisions and submit their National Board work. There is also an option to defer to the next school year if needed. Please refer to the documents linked below for specific information. Remember, Renewal is only available to those NBCTs who started the process last school year and were forced to defer because of the pandemic.
Options NBCTs need to understand that their state teaching certificate will NOT be extended to match the National Board certificate. Also, the state supplement cannot be extended without successful completion of the MOC process. Remember, other criteria must also be met for NBCTs to extend their supplement. For teachers pursuing or considering National Board certification, things you need to know.
For teachers awaiting scores for initial certification:
For NBCTs awaiting Renewal results
As a reminder, Maintenance of Certification (MOC) has replaced Renewal. The only NBCTs who are pursuing Renewal are those who were granted an extension due to Covid-19. All other NBCTs will maintain their certificates through the MOC process. For more information about MOC, you may register for a webinar scheduled for October 20, 2020.
Report by Dr. Jennifer Garrett In January 2018, CERRA released a two-page report comparing turnover rates of all SC teachers and those of only National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in the state. The report concluded that turnover rates of SC NBCTs were significantly lower than those of all teachers in the state over a five-year period. The table below, which has been updated with the most recent data available, displays a similar trend. It is worth noting that NBCT turnover rates increased slightly in 2017-18 and 2018-19, just as turnover rates rose for all teachers during this time. The difference in turnover rates between the two groups, however, remains evident. Specifically looking at the 2018-19 school year, turnover for all SC teachers was 9% and only 3.6% for NBCTs in the state. The full report is available on the CERRA website at:
https://www.cerra.org/uploads/1/7/6/8/17684955/nbct_retention_paper_spring_2020.pdf Recognizing that the situation with the pandemic continues to be fluid and candidates are still not able to visit assessment centers, National Board has adjusted the timeline once again. If you are an initial or renewal candidate and are able to complete your submission by June 12, 2020, you do not need to take any action. If you are needing to delay submission and/or testing, you now have until May 7, 2020, to submit the COVID-19 exception form. If you have already submitted a form and need to make changes, you may submit a new form as long as you do so prior to May 7, 2020. Candidates' options include submitting by June 12th, delaying until October, deferring to 2020-21, switching a component or withdrawing. Please be aware of the following.
You may visit National Board's COVID-19 tab on their website for detailed information or use the links below to access the specific information you need.
BY SUZANNE KOTYNational Board has released its plan for assisting both initial and renewal candidates during this difficult time. Detailed information can be found on their Covid-19 page on their website. If you are unable to submit as planned this year, you must notify National Board by April 30th using this link. If you plan to submit this year, no action is needed; the deadline for submission has been extended to June 12, 2020 with the testing window for Component 1 moved to July 15, 2020. Initial Candidates:Renewal Candidates:Reminder:If you are unable to complete the process this year, it is your responsibility to notify the National Board before April 30, 2020. Use the link above to complete their exception form.
Other important information:
Testing capacity for Component 1 of initial certification is being increased. Deferral options for both initial certification and renewal are being developed. There is a webinar planned for April 2nd; you may register here. Registration for next year's certification process will be delayed. Clarification about the requirements for portfolio submission requirements can be found here. |
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