Albert Shanker Grant and Candidate Fee Subsidy Program (2012-2013)
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a nonprofit organization of teachers and other education stakeholders created in 1987 to assist in improving student learning through the establishment of higher, more rigorous standards of knowledge and performance for teachers. By defining and recognizing highly accomplished practice, a certificate awarded by the National Board attests that a teacher has been judged by his or her peers as one who meets meaningfully high and rigorous standards of knowledge and performance. (S)he has demonstrated the ability, in a variety of settings, to make sound professional judgments about students’ learning needs and to act effectively on those judgments.
To register as a candidate for national board certification, a teacher must complete the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) application by going to www.nbpts.org. A $500 deposit and any other fee(s) required by NBPTS must be submitted for candidacy registration.
In support of these efforts, the New York State Education Department is pleased to announce the continued availability of up to $2,000 in funding to support qualified New York State teachers seeking initial National Board Certification during the 2012-2013 school year through the New York State Albert Shanker Grant, and the availability of up to $700 in funding to support retake candidacy efforts by qualified grantees through the federally-funded Candidate Fee Subsidy Program, as follows:
New York State Albert Shanker Grant Program
To be eligible for the Albert Shanker Grant, a candidate MUST:
(a) be employed as a full-time teacher in a NYS public school;
(b) hold a valid New York State teaching certificate;
(c) hold tenure;
(d) commit to and actually complete the entirety of the initial NBPTS candidacy effort, and
(e) continue to be employed as a full-time teacher in a New York public school for at least one full school year following completion of the initial grant period.
The New York State Education Department will accept applications and, contingent on the availability of funding, award Albert Shanker Grants to qualified teachers for the 2012-2013 school year through November 30, 2012, based on the date a complete application is received by mail in the Department’s Office of Teaching Initiatives. Prospective candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, since funding availability is limited.
The following application serves for boththe New York State Albert Shanker Grant Programand for the federally-funded Candidate Fee Subsidy Program. The application must be completed and submitted along with documentation that you have paid your $500 registration deposit to NBPTS (e.g., a photocopy of your payment to or receipt from NBPTS.) Should the application form be incomplete or the required documentation not be received, grant eligibility will not be considered until all required information/materials are received.
Each qualified teacher who applies for an initial Albert Shanker Grant and meets the requirements will be awarded up to $2,000, to the extent that funding remains available at the time the application is received. All funding of qualified candidates will be awarded based on the date the application is receivedby the New York State Education Department’s Office of Teaching Initiatives. You may fax your completed 2012-2013 application for the Albert Shanker Grant & Candidate Fee Subsidy to (518) 473-0271, to the attention of the Albert Shanker Grant Program, or mail it to the Office of Teaching Initiatives, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Ave., Room 5N Albany, NY 12234, Attn: Albert Shanker Grant. If an application and documentation are sent to this Office via FAX, the original document, with an original signature, must be postmarked to the Office of Teaching Initiatives at the above address within 5 business days from the date of the fax.
A maximum of $2000 will be authorized for payment to the NBPTS account of qualified candidates to cover the full registration balance due. There will be no reimbursement of the registration deposit. All fees and costs beyond the grant sum(s) awarded are the responsibility of the candidate.
The awarding of the New York State Albert Shanker Grant is contingent on:
(1) initial candidate eligibility pursuant to Sec. 3004-a of New York Education Law and Part 86 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education,
(2) the candidate completing the entirety of the initial candidacy regimen, as documented by NBPTS, and
(3) the candidate remaining a full-time teacher in a New York State public school for at least one school year beyond completion of the initial candidacy effort. Failure to meet all of these criteria may result in liability, including action to recover previously granted funds.
Funding is limited. Should applications be received from otherwise qualified candidates after available funding for the 2012-2013 Albert Shanker Grant is exhausted, those candidates will be placed on a waiting list, pending the availability of reallocated funds for 2012-2013 or the appropriation of new funding for 2013-2014.
Federal Candidate Fee Subsidy Program
To be eligible for the Candidate Fee Subsidy, applicants MUST:
(a) be employed as a full-time teacher in either a New York State public school, a charter school or a State-approved non-public school and
(b) if employed in a public school setting, hold a valid New York State teaching certificate. Tenure is not an eligibility requirement of the Candidate Fee Subsidy.
The New York State Education Department will allocate the available federal NBPTS Candidate Fee Subsidy funding to support qualified New York State teachers accepted as first-time NBPTS candidates, should they not be eligible for the Albert Shanker Grant. Candidates must submit a completed application to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) along with a $500 deposit by accessing NBPTS at www.nbpts.org. On receiving a completed Albert Shanker Grant/Candidate Fee Subsidy application form accompanied by documentation that the required $500 registration deposit has been received by NBPTS, qualified candidates will be funded for up to $1,250 in support of their initial (first-time) NBPTS candidate registration fees.
“Retake” funding:
All candidates receiving the Albert Shanker Grant will be eligible for up to $700 in available federal NBPTS Candidate Fee Subsidy funding to support one or two “retakes” (at $350 per retake activity) should they not achieve National Board Certification upon completion of their initial effort. Application for retake funding must be made directly to NBPTS and not to this Office.
Because both the Albert Shanker Grant and the Candidate Fee Subsidy are awarded on a “one time only” basis and, by statute, neither may be received by a candidate more than once, there is no retake funding available for recipients of initial Candidate Fee Subsidy funding.
The application form for the Albert Shanker Grant and for the Candidate Fee Subsidy Program follows and may also be accessed at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert The completed application and accompanying documentation must be received by the Office of Teaching Initiatives, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Ave., Room 5N Albany, NY 12234,; Attn. Albert Shanker Grant no later than November 30, 2012; Fax #(518) 473-0271.
The website of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is: www.nbpts.org. It is through this website that applications for National Teacher Certification candidacy may be accessed and submitted electronically.
To be eligible as a candidate for National Board Certification, candidates MUST:
(a) hold a baccalaureate degree;
(b) have at least 3 years appropriate teaching experience;
(c) hold a valid state teaching certificate OR teach in a state approved private school
All questions, comments and other inquiries should be directed to:
New York State Education Department Program Administrator:
Sanford E. Lake
Office of Teaching Initiatives, New York State Education Department
5 North, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: 518-473-9847 Fax: 518-473-0271
Email: TDPR@mail.nysed.gov
Website: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/