National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Assessments
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a non-profit organization that provides certification for teachers in the United States. NBPTS assessments are designed to measure teachers’ knowledge and skills in five core areas:
- Content knowledge
- Pedagogical knowledge
- Student assessment
- Learning environment
- Professionalism
There are two types of NBPTS assessments:
- Component assessments measure teachers’ knowledge and skills in a specific content area or pedagogical area.
- Portfolio assessments measure teachers’ overall teaching effectiveness.
Component Assessments
Component assessments are typically taken online and consist of multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. The questions are designed to assess teachers’ knowledge of the content area or pedagogical area, as well as their ability to apply that knowledge to teaching practice.
There are 25 different component assessments available, covering a wide range of content areas and pedagogical areas. Teachers can choose to take any combination of component assessments to earn their NBPTS certification.
Portfolio Assessments
Portfolio assessments are designed to measure teachers’ overall teaching effectiveness. Teachers who choose to pursue portfolio assessment must submit a portfolio of their work, which includes:
- A teaching philosophy statement
- A description of their teaching practice
- Evidence of their students’ learning
- A self-assessment of their teaching
Portfolio assessments are scored by a team of experienced educators. The scorers evaluate the portfolio based on the NBPTS standards for teaching excellence.
Benefits of NBPTS Certification
There are many benefits to earning NBPTS certification, including:
- Increased teacher effectiveness: NBPTS-certified teachers have been shown to be more effective in the classroom. They are more knowledgeable about their content area, they are better able to plan and deliver instruction, and they are more effective at assessing student learning.
- Higher student achievement: Students taught by NBPTS-certified teachers have been shown to achieve higher levels of academic success. This is likely due to the fact that NBPTS-certified teachers are more effective at teaching and they are more likely to create a positive learning environment.
- Increased teacher satisfaction: NBPTS-certified teachers are more satisfied with their careers. They are more likely to feel that they are making a difference in the lives of their students, and they are more likely to be committed to teaching.
- Higher salaries: NBPTS-certified teachers earn higher salaries than non-certified teachers. This is because NBPTS certification is a recognized mark of teaching excellence.
Conclusion
NBPTS assessments are a valuable tool for measuring teacher knowledge and skills. NBPTS certification is a mark of teaching excellence, and it can lead to increased teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement, increased teacher satisfaction, and higher salaries.