National Board Certified Teacher Incentive Program
National Board Certification is a nationwide certification program designed to recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools. Quality educators are key to student success. The Maryland State Department of Education is implementing a new Blueprint for Maryland’s Future program to attract and retain National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) throughout the state.
The certification process is designed to be flexible, efficient, and affordable. To become a board certified teacher, eligible candidates must demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills, and practice in their individual certificate area. Learn more about the process to earn National Board Certification.
Financial support is available for existing Maryland teachers interested in pursuing certification. Learn how to apply for National Board Certification fee support. We also encourage educators to reach out to their local education agencies to learn about available supports for this program.
Benefits for National Board Certified Teachers
Direct Impact on Students
DIRECT IMPACT ON STUDENTS
Research has demonstrated that Board-certified teachers positively impact student learning.More Opportunities for Advancement
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT
Board-certified teachers are recognized as experts and they are often sought out for leadership positions in their schools and districts.
Financial Incentives
Financial Incentives
Fee support and salary incentives up to $17k are available to Maryland teachers to pursue, achieve, and maintain National Board Certification.What is National Board Certification?
National Board Certification is a professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.
Important Resources
What Low Performing Schools are eligible?
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will identify the schools eligible for the program each year. Maryland public schools earning a 1 or 2 star rating in the Maryland’s Accountability System in two of the last three available years of data meet the State definition. In addition to schools meeting the State definition, each local education agency will also have the flexibility to also include up to 10 percent of the low performing schools within their district. This local flexibility invites all local education agencies to participate in the NBCT program based on local circumstances and priorities.
MSDE will publish a complete list of participating schools starting each year beginning with the 2022-23 school year.
How are low performing schools identified for the program?
MSDE has released the first iteration of the State’s Framework for National Board Certified Teachers and Low Performing Schools (Framework 1.0), which identifies schools eligible for the program. This framework includes the following methodology:
- The use of multiple years of data improves the identification process to ensure that low performing schools over multiple years are identified.
- Elementary, Middle and High schools earning a 1 or 2 star rating for two years meet the state definition and must be included in the program. LEAs that have more than 10 percent of total schools meeting the state definition of low performing cannot use the local flexibility option to include additional schools.
- Under the local flexibility option, 10 percent of eligible schools is based on the total number of schools in each LEA.
What happens if my school improves?
Once a school is identified as participating in the NBCT and low performing school program, the school remains in the program even if the school improves and is no longer identified as a low performing school.
