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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2000

News Release

Statement of NEA President Bob Chase On the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Report

Washington, D.C. -- The National Education Association welcomes this new research that concludes what we've long known: that Board certified teachers pass along their quest for excellence to their students. The Accomplished Teaching Validation Study, released today by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), provides strong evidence that teachers who challenge themselves to meet national standards and peer evaluation will improve their teaching - and their students' learning.

These findings are encouraging, but are not surprising. Teachers who commit to the National Board Certification process are highly motivated - voluntarily dedicating themselves to this time-consuming and rigorous process. And, all teachers who attempt the demanding National Board assessments have signaled their willingness to hold themselves to the highest professional standards. Those who achieve National Board Certification clearly demonstrate to themselves and to the public that they possess an advanced set of skills and knowledge, and this report confirms that they have a greater likelihood of improving student achievement.

The NEA supports National Board Certification as a means to promote high quality teaching in every American school. This demanding process calls on both teachers and students to meet higher standards in a variety of critical areas. Board certification enhances teachers' skills, increases their stature within the school and the community, and improves the education of children. To help our members complete this challenging professional development step, NEA, in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers, has published, National Board Certification: A Candidate's Guide, available free on our website at www.nea.org.

The NEA salutes the more than 4,800 exemplary teachers who have achieved the profession's highest form of recognition, and encourages those still pursuing National Board Certification to continue this important journey.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.