BREAKOUT SESSIONS-ALIKE DISCUSSIONS AND HANDOUTS

(Updated5.01.18)

HANDOUTS:

Important Must Read Document

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

NBPTS Guidelines for Ethical Candidate Support

Partnership Agreement

Communication Update

Team Roles and Responsibilities

Professional Development Hours for all participants

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

When to register with NBPTS and pay the $75 assessment fee:

The last day for candidates to create an account with NBPTS and pay the $75 non-refundable assessment fee isJune 3, 2018 at midnight. All candidates MUST release their information to a ‘third party’. Keep in mind that ISBE is the third party and without this information being available, ISBE cannot make payments to the candidate’s account.

When selecting the component/s, be sure to SUBMIT for each component. SUBMIT means that everything is in order and your account is ready for a payment to be made by ISBE. INCOMPLETE will not get paid. PURCHASED means that ISBE made the payment.

Can additional candidates still be added to the cohort?

The application for the Illinois NB Spring Candidate Fee Subsidy application for $1,900 ends on May 21, 2018. The Illinois NB Fall Candidate Fee Subsidy application for $1,900 will open on September 5, 2019 and close on October 7, 2018 at midnight. Any additions to the cohort must be communicated with the NBRC to help us keep your cohort list current and correct.

What happens to a PD School that cannot sustain a minimum of 10 candidates for a cohort after the first year 2018-2019?

The NBRC is committed to your cohort remaining as a Professional Development School/District. The participants (candidates) signed an agreement statement as a promise to complete the first year and submit the required components to NBPTS in May, 2019. Following the submission of those components, there may be participants that decided they do not want to continue with this program. If the school/district is not able to replace those who decide to discontinue as a NB candidate, then the remaining cohort participants will be transferred to a Traditional Cohort in cycle two (2019-2020). A traditional cohort is open to any candidate in the geographical area with the focus being National Board Certification. A traditional cohort will not focus on school goals or be provided the convenience of being a school site cohort.

How can the PD School sustain the cohort for the next year/s?Schools/districts that are starting the second and third year as a National Board Professional Development School will be required to create an action plan/ logic model which outlines how the cohort will be sustained for one, two, three….years. Having an action plan will help to eliminate all of the rushing to meet deadlines as can be experienced when preparing for year one.

ISBE and the NBRC are committed to supporting the NB Professional Development Schoolsas they work to complete the NB process. For the NBRC to continue providing the school/district PD services, the cohort will need to begin each school year (2018-2019/2019-2020…) with a minimum of 10 teachers/counselors. It should become a part of the school culture to havecandidates waiting tobecome a member of the cohort.

How can a school/district encourage more teachers/counselors to take part in the NB Professional Development Cohort and work towards their NB certification?

Many Illinois school districts offer incentives to encourage teachers to complete their NB certification. These schools-districts are proud to have highly qualified National Board Certified Teachers working with their students. Administrators, teachers and unions work together to create a ‘systems in’ approach to promote NB certification and to keep the newly certified teachers in their schools. A few of the incentives are: 1) NB certification is worked into the salary schedule as compared to a master’s degree. 2) NB certification is recognized with a yearly stipend equal to a percentage of the teacher’s salary. 3) For more examples, please contact the NBRC.

  • Illinois recognizes NBCTs as Master Teachers
  • NBPTS Master Teacher Endorsement in the Illinois Licensure System.

What components will be covered during the 2018-2019 cycle and the 2019-2020 cycle?

The cohort members will complete Component Two- Differentiation in Instruction and Component 4 – Effective and Reflective Practitioner during the first year of their candidacy.The cohort members will completeComponent One-Content Knowledge and Component Three—Teaching Practice and Classroom Environment during the second year.

Withdrawing from NBPTS and from the ISBE funding:

NB candidates taking part in a National Board Professional Development School cohort have committed to completing one year of the NB process and submitting the selected components. However, there are times when emergencies or life happens and the candidate will have no choice but to withdraw. If a candidate is considering withdrawalthen the candidate must meet and discuss this option with the administrator. The administrator’s position is to determine if withdrawing is the right choice for the teacher/counselor. If it is decided that withdrawing is the only option, then the teacher/counselor will contact NBPTS S using their web form located on the Contact Us page of the NBPTS website. Please use the form for customer supportto withdraw from NBPTS and have the funds returned to ISBE. If the withdrawal process is completed correctly and meets the NB deadline for withdrawing, then the candidate will be eligible to apply again, in the future, for the Illinois candidate fee subsidy (if funds are available). Should a candidate NOT withdraw by the given deadline, then the candidate may be obligated to repay the ISBE Candidate Fee Subsidy and will not be eligible for the Illinois candidate fee subsidy in the future.

NOTE: there are deadlines for withdrawing that, if missed; the candidate may be required to repay ISBE any unused funds. A detailed Policy for Withdrawing was a required read prior to applying for the Illinois NB Subsidy and will be reviewed at the first cohort session.

DEFERRAL: Deferring the NB candidacy is an option for teachers who complete the first year of candidacy but,due to personal issues, will need to take a year off then return and complete all remaining components in year three. This option requires approval and is decided case by case through the NBRC.

Memorandum of Understanding for National Board PD Schools.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the National Board PD Schools is not to be considered a legal document by the NBRC or schools/districts. The purpose of the MOU is to guarantee that all members of the cohorts understand their roles and their commitment to this program. This document is intended for communication and clarification of each member’s role.

  • The MOU will be reviewed with the NB facilitator at the August Mentor/Coach training. The NB facilitator will plan a system for collecting all of the required signatures, and then submit the MOU to the NBRC in October, 2018.
  • All participants must sign the MOU (administrator, NB facilitator, teacher liaison and cohort members).
  • The administrator will share the responsibility with the NB facilitator incollecting all of the required signatures (Refer to attached sample MOU).

Contract

Your school and/or district administrator will sign a contract with Illinois State University. The signed contract is due to the NBRC no later than July 26, 2018 when the final 50% payment is also due.

Private NB Supporters contacting candidates:

Many of the larger school districts throughout the state have a NB program that provides support to NB candidates (example: CPS Teacher’s Union). Please communicate with your candidates that they are NOT to take part in any other NB support system except for the PD program provided by the NBRC. Taking part in more than one NB support program causes candidates to become confused in what their expectations are.

Questions and Answers

What is the cost to the teacher/counselor?

NB Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable $75 registration fee for each year they are in the process.

How often will the classes be held and what does the work load consist of i.e. papers, group work, and reading? Do I have to purchase any books?

It is strongly suggested that you go to and to better understand NBPTS and the work required. NB is not to be confused with taking graduate courses. The NBRC provides 12, two-hour professional development sessions. The Team/Cohort will determine the schedule of when and where the sessions will be held. There are no books to purchase. There are required components that are worked on throughout the year during the session and on your own time. **Attendance is mandatory.

What happens if I move? How would I complete the NB certification?

The National Board Certification can be completed from any state. You will lose the Illinois state subsidy if you move from Illinois as it is intended for teachers who teach in an Illinois public school—ONLY. As long as you remain in Illinois, the NBRC will provide you support in a ‘traditional’ support program if you do not remain in a NB Professional Development School.