North Carolina continues to have more nationally-certified teachers than any other state, according to a news release today from Governor Easley. With 12,770 teachers across the state now certified, nearly 15 percent of North Carolina teachers have achieved National Board certification. "We are proud that more than one-fifth of the nation's 64,000 National Board Certified teachers work in North Carolina classrooms," Easley said. "Our state supports and applauds these educators who are crucial to our efforts to prepare students for college, a career and success in the 21st century."

National Board Certification, the highest credential in the teaching profession, requires an extensive series of performance-based assessments including teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and thorough reviews of the candidates' classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students.

North Carolina supports teachers’ efforts to achieve National Board Certification in the following ways:

* Payment up front of the $2,500 assessment fee. (Teachers are obligated to teach in the state the following year whether or not they achieve certification.)
* Three paid release days from normal teacher responsibilities to develop their portfolios.
* A 12-percent salary supplement to the teachers’ regular salary, good for the 10-year life of the certification.
* 15 continuing education units (CEUs) awarded to the individual for completing the National Board Certification process.

North Carolina has led the nation in the number of nationally board certified teachers since 1994. The other states in the top 5 ranking are Florida, 10,875; South Carolina, 5,729; California, 3,878; Ohio, 2,757.

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