INFORMATIONAL

  During the 1996 General Assembly session, funding was
  appropriated to establish an incentive grant program for
  teachers seeking certification from the National Board for
  Professional Teaching Standards.  The appropriation includes
  $75,000 for each year of the biennium.  This funding will
  provide seventy-five $1,000 grants to pay half of the $2,000
  cost of applying for National Board certification.
  
  The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards,
  created in 1987, is designed to complement, not replace,
  existing state licensure procedures for teachers.  The
  National Board certification system involves three elements: 
  standards (establishing professional consensus about what
  teachers should know and be able to do), assessment
  (providing a valid and accessible means to evaluate teachers
  against the standards), and professional development
  (providing teachers with the opportunity to strengthen their
  practice through self-examination).  Enclosed is a copy of
  the brochure, An Invitation to National Board Certification
  -- Q&A, 1996-1997, that provides more detailed information
  about National Board Certification.
  
  During the 1996-97 school year, six certificates will be
  offered by the National Board.  Three of the certificates
  are for generalists -- Early Childhood/Generalist; Middle
  Childhood/Generalist; and Early Adolescence/Generalist.  The
  other three certificates offered are for teachers of
  specific subject areas -- Early Adolescence/English Language
  Arts; Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood/Art; and
  Adolescence and Young Adulthood/Mathematics.   
  
  Individuals interested in seeking an incentive grant must
  have an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited
  institution, have completed three years' teaching
  experience, hold a valid state teaching license for the
  three years' experience, and be employed as a teacher in
  Virginia. Teachers who are interested in seeking National
  Board certification may complete the attached form to
  receive additional information to apply for the $1,000
  grants.  The forms should be mailed or faxed to Thomas A.
  Elliott, Division Chief for Compliance, Department of
  Education, by September 1, 1996.
  
  Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Elliott at (804)
  371-2522 if you have any questions regarding the incentive
  grants for National Board certification.
  
  RTL:psp
  
  Attachment:  This memo and its attachment will be sent to
               the superintendent's office.


                       DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
                        P. O. BOX 2120
                RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
  
  
        NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE GRANTS
  
  
  NAME:  ____________________________________________________________
                           
  VA TEACHING LICENSE NO.
  (OR SOCIAL SECURITY NO.)___________________________________________         
     
  
  ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________
                           
  
                                                             
                           
  
  PHONE NUMBER: _________________________
                           
  
  PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: ______________________________________________
                           
  
  ADDRESS OF EMPLOYMENT: ____________________________________________
                                                  
  
  TEACHING ASSIGNMENT: ______________________________________________
                           
  
  GRADE LEVEL(S): ___________________________________________________

  NUMBER OF YEARS OF 
  TEACHING EXPERIENCE ________________
                                                                    
                               
          
  I am interested in obtaining additional information
  concerning an application for a National Board Certification
  incentive grant.
  
  
                            ____________________________________                                 
                                             Signature
  
                                                             
                                        _____________
                                             Date
  
  
  PLEASE MAIL OR FAX THIS FORM TO: Dr. Thomas A. Elliott
                                   Division Chief for
                                     Compliance
                                   Department of Education
                                   P. O. Box 2120
                                   Richmond, VA 23218-2120
                                   FAX:  804/225-2831