National Board Incentive Program
by Susan Nisonger Olsen, Ed.D.
October 14, 2022
Commencing July 1, 2021, the NBPTS Certification Incentive Program provides a $25,000 incentive award for California National Board-Certified Teachers (NBCTs) who teach in high-priority schools. This award is “granted to the extent that funds have been appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act.” Awards grants to school districts for the purpose of providing incentives to teachers who have attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and agree to teach at a high-priority school for at least five years. Additionally, any teacher who initiates the process of pursuing a certification from NBPTS when teaching at a high-priority school is eligible to receive a candidate subsidy to cover the costs of seeking certification.
Here are the details of the two programs:
The California National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Candidate Subsidy Award application is now open. This award is for up to $2500 for teachers that are interested in initiating the process to become National Board Certified Teachers. The current application is for teachers starting in the 2022-23 National Board cycle. Subsidy payments are made directly to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Subsidy Application Link: https://surveys3.cde.ca.gov/s.asp?k=165878914839
The application closes January 4, 2023 at 4 p.m.
California National Board Certified Teacher Certification Incentive Award (for current National Board Certified Teachers working in high-priority schools). This one-time incentive award of $25,000 is paid in $5,000 installments for five consecutive years. The annual payment shall be made upon completion of the school year, and upon approval of a district-certified application.
The Incentive Award Application will open on November 1, 2022
If a teacher that earns National Board certification using the subsidy award, they are also eligible for the NBCT Incentive Award if they continue to teach in an eligible high-priority school.
Additionally, according to the California Education Code, “a person who is licensed to teach or provide services in the public schools of a state other than California and who is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a clear teaching or services credential authorizing teaching or service in the area, as determined by the commission, in which the person has received national certification”.
Susan Nisonger Olsen, Ed.D.
Pronouns: she/her
Education Programs Consultant
Teacher and Leader Policy Office
Educator Excellence and Equity Division
Instruction and Measurement Branch
California Department of Education