Archived InformationArchived InformationAmerican Board American Board

CertificationCertificationPresentation Presentation

byby

Buffy DeBreaux-WattsBuffy DeBreaux-Watts

American Board for Certification American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellenceof Teacher Excellence

American Board for American Board for Certification Certification of Teacher Excellenceof Teacher Excellence

Founded in 2001 by Founded in 2001 by Education Leaders Council Education Leaders Council

and the National Council and the National Council on Teacher Qualityon Teacher Quality

What does the What does the American Board offer?American Board offer?

Passport to TeachingPassport to TeachingSMSM CertificationCertification for Prospective for Prospective TeachersTeachers

Master TeacherMaster TeacherSMSM Certification Certification for experienced teachersfor experienced teachers

Advantages of Advantages of alternative certificationalternative certification

People coming into teaching through People coming into teaching through alternative routes tend to be older, people of alternative routes tend to be older, people of color, more men, have academic degrees color, more men, have academic degrees other than education, and have experiences in other than education, and have experiences in other occupations.other occupations.

Early data from several states indicate that Early data from several states indicate that individuals entering teaching through individuals entering teaching through alternative routes have higher retention rates alternative routes have higher retention rates than those entering from traditional college than those entering from traditional college based programs.based programs.

C. Emily Feistritzer (2000); L. Klagholz (1999)C. Emily Feistritzer (2000); L. Klagholz (1999)

American Board for Certification American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence meets the of Teacher Excellence meets the federal definition of “Highly federal definition of “Highly Qualified” and is recognized in Qualified” and is recognized in NCLB as an approved provider NCLB as an approved provider (Title II, Part A, National (Title II, Part A, National Activities Section)Activities Section)

““Encourage all states to adopt Encourage all states to adopt American Board Certification as American Board Certification as an alternate route to full an alternate route to full certification,” Secretary Paigecertification,” Secretary Paige

Alternative Route to Alternative Route to CertificationCertification

American Board American Board CertificationCertification Current Certification Areas Current Certification Areas

– Elementary (K-6)Elementary (K-6)Passport available in August, 2003Passport available in August, 2003

– English (6-12) English (6-12) Passport available in Winter, 2003Passport available in Winter, 2003

– Mathematics (6-12) Mathematics (6-12) Passport available in Winter, 2003Passport available in Winter, 2003

– Master Teacher Certification in Elementary, Master Teacher Certification in Elementary, English and Math will be available in 2004.English and Math will be available in 2004.

Passport to TeachingPassport to TeachingSMSM

CertificationCertification

A credential offered to individuals A credential offered to individuals holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, who can: who can:

• Pass a criminal background check; Pass a criminal background check; • Pass a series of rigorous examinations Pass a series of rigorous examinations

covering the areas of subject area covering the areas of subject area mastery, written language skills, and a mastery, written language skills, and a fundamental knowledge of teaching.fundamental knowledge of teaching.

Elements that support Elements that support Content ValidityContent Validity

Rigorous StandardsRigorous Standards – developed – developed and reviewed by a group of and reviewed by a group of nationally recognized experts, nationally recognized experts, researchers, teacher educators, researchers, teacher educators, teachers, administrators, and teachers, administrators, and school practitioners. school practitioners.

American Board American Board Standards Development Standards Development ProcessProcessSubject Area StandardsSubject Area Standards Review of Current State and National Review of Current State and National

Standards for teachers;Standards for teachers; Review of State Standards for Students;Review of State Standards for Students; Select Panels who crafted standards;Select Panels who crafted standards; Standards were reviewed by scholars, Standards were reviewed by scholars,

teachers, teacher educators, teachers, teacher educators, administrators, researchers, and administrators, researchers, and policymakers.policymakers.

American Board American Board Elementary Education StandardsElementary Education Standards: : Domain exampleDomain example Reading and English Language ArtsReading and English Language Arts   Domain 1: AlphabeticsDomain 1: Alphabetics 1.1 1.1 Alphabetic BasicsAlphabetic Basics & & Phonemic AwarenessPhonemic Awareness 1.2 1.2 Phonics InstructionPhonics Instruction Domain 2: FluencyDomain 2: Fluency Domain 3: Comprehension of TextsDomain 3: Comprehension of Texts 3.1 3.1 Vocabulary DevelopmentVocabulary Development 3.2 3.2 Interpretation and Evaluation of Informational TextsInterpretation and Evaluation of Informational Texts.. 3.3 3.3 Interpretation and Evaluation of Literary TextsInterpretation and Evaluation of Literary Texts.. Domain 4: Oral and Written Language DevelopmentDomain 4: Oral and Written Language Development 4.1 4.1 Standard English Language ConventionsStandard English Language Conventions 4.24.2 Language Acquisition and DevelopmentLanguage Acquisition and Development 4.3 4.3 Comprehension and Delivery of Spoken MessagesComprehension and Delivery of Spoken Messages 4.4 4.4 Writing Strategies & ApplicationsWriting Strategies & Applications 4.5 4.5 Research StrategiesResearch Strategies..

Professional Teaching Professional Teaching Knowledge StandardsKnowledge Standards Select Panel of Researchers, teachers, administrators, Select Panel of Researchers, teachers, administrators,

and teacher educators;and teacher educators; Review of current standards for pedagogy at the state Review of current standards for pedagogy at the state

and national level;and national level; Review of the literature to select Review of the literature to select empirically validatedempirically validated

strategies—strategies—– Linked to student achievementLinked to student achievement– ReplicatedReplicated– Supported by leaders in the fieldSupported by leaders in the field

Standards were reviewed by teachers (new and Standards were reviewed by teachers (new and experienced), teacher educators, administrators, experienced), teacher educators, administrators, school psychologists, special educators, researchers, school psychologists, special educators, researchers, and policymakers.and policymakers.

Professional Teaching Professional Teaching KnowledgeKnowledge Instructional DesignInstructional Design Instructional StrategiesInstructional Strategies Classroom ManagementClassroom Management Assessment Terms and Assessment Terms and

TechniquesTechniques Working with ParentsWorking with Parents Working with Diverse StudentsWorking with Diverse Students

American Board OffersAmerican Board Offers Self-assessment—Self-assessment—will identify identify

areas to help the individual focus areas to help the individual focus their areas of study. their areas of study.

Advisor—Advisor—will provide candidate a will provide candidate a list of resources, support and list of resources, support and advice to complete certification advice to complete certification and participate in job search.and participate in job search.

American Board American Board OffersOffers Online Preparation MaterialsOnline Preparation Materials––will provide will provide

interested candidates with study and interested candidates with study and practice materials to help prepare for practice materials to help prepare for meeting the standards.meeting the standards.

Resource linksResource links––will provide interested will provide interested candidates with a list of resources and candidates with a list of resources and courses to help prepare for meeting the courses to help prepare for meeting the standards.standards.

Test PreparationTest Preparation––will provide interested will provide interested candidates with a list of approved vendors candidates with a list of approved vendors for test preparation.for test preparation.

American Board OffersAmerican Board Offers Descriptive Score Reports —Descriptive Score Reports — will will

provide scores that indicate provide scores that indicate specific domain results and the specific domain results and the level of passing for each level of passing for each candidatecandidate

American Board OffersAmerican Board Offers Ongoing ResearchOngoing Research –American –American

Board certified teachers will be Board certified teachers will be part of an ongoing longitudinal part of an ongoing longitudinal study that will assess teacher study that will assess teacher retention rates and measure retention rates and measure American Board Certified American Board Certified teachers’ impact on student teachers’ impact on student learning. learning.

Benefits to States & Benefits to States & School DistrictsSchool Districts American Board Certified American Board Certified

teachers meet the NCLB definition teachers meet the NCLB definition of ‘highly qualified’ placing the of ‘highly qualified’ placing the school district in compliance with school district in compliance with the regulationsthe regulations

Expand the pool of teacher Expand the pool of teacher applicants for classroom positionsapplicants for classroom positions

Benefits to States & Benefits to States & School DistrictsSchool Districts An official mechanism to us as an An official mechanism to us as an

indicator that teachers have the indicator that teachers have the subject area knowledge subject area knowledge necessary to successfully teach necessary to successfully teach classroom students. classroom students.

A tool to use to determine how A tool to use to determine how state bonus program dollars are state bonus program dollars are spent (Master Teacher).spent (Master Teacher).

ResourcesResources American Board Certification InformationAmerican Board Certification Information

- - www.abteach.orgwww.abteach.org

American Board Circular– a biweekly American Board Circular– a biweekly publication that focuses on issues in publication that focuses on issues in certificationcertification