INFORMATIONAL

 Teachers who are interested in applying for a $2,000 grant for National Board 
Certification are invited to submit the attached application form to the Office of 
Teacher Education and Licensure by May 5, 2000. 

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was created in 1987 
and will offer 19 certificates for 2000-2001 school year. It is a voluntary 
certification process for teachers and is designed to complement, not replace, 
initial state licensure. Individuals interested in seeking National Board 
Certification must have an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited 
institution, have completed three years of teaching experience, and be employed as 
a teacher in Virginia. More information about National Board Certification is 
available on the NBPTS website: www.nbpts.org. 

The application fee for this year has been increased from $2,000 to $2,300. Funding 
to support $2,000 of the $2,300 application fee is provided through funds 
appropriated by the General Assembly and NBPTS grant subsidy funds. These funds 
will support at least 60 candidates. Candidates will be selected on a first-come, 
first-served basis and will be equally distributed among the eight superintendents' 
regions. Applicants selected for the $2,000 grant will be responsible for the initial
$300 portion of the $2,300 application fee and will be notified by June 1 about the 
application process. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent 
for teacher education and licensure, at (804) 371-2522 if you have any questions 
regarding this application process.

JLD/psp
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