A new report from the Center for Reinventing Public Education looks at what Washington State is getting for its nearly $100 million annual investment in National Board Certified Teachers. Washington State teachers currently earn a $5,000 annual bonus--which has led to tripling the number of NBCTs in the state in the past 4 years--as well as an additional $5,000 for NBCTs who work in identified low-income “challenging” schools. CRPE finds that these bonuses have not be effective in incenting NBCTs to move to high-poverty schools, or to stay in challenging assignments.
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has proposed suspending the subsidies as a budget-cutting measure in response to state fiscal pressures. According to NBPTS, More than 30 states and the District of Columbia current provide financial incentives for National Board Certified Teachers. As states consider spending cuts, they should look carefully at what value these expenditures are producing. A $10.6 million federal subsidy for NBPTS is also potentially on the chopping block.