News Release
at The Chicago Public Education Fund
Mike Sanders, Development/Communications Director
(312) 558-4520

March 15, 2005

Business, education leaders to increase number of National Board Certified Teachers in urban schools
The Fund to reward certified teachers $260,000, work with public schools to reach 1,200 master teachers by 2008

CHICAGO— More than 400 teachers, principals and civic leaders gathered today for the first-of-a-kind urban summit dedicated to increasing the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in low-income, low-performing schools.

Participants from Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Charlotte met at the Hotel Intercontinental Chicago for the all-day summit, which included presentations by Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart,Tribune Publishing President Scott Smith, and NBPTS Chair and former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes.

As part of the summit, Mayor Daley honored 130 Chicago Public Schools teachers for achieving National Board Certification, increasing the city’s number of NBCTs from 11 in 1999, to 377.

“As master teachers, you are taking a leadership role in helping to shape, enhance and strengthen the Chicago Public School system and I thank you for that,” Mayor Daley said. “Year by year, we get closer to our goal of creating the best urban school system in the nation. I am confident that if we continue working together, we will achieve it.”

Administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), National Board Certification® is the highest credential in the teaching profession. Certification is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes between one and three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and school counselors should know and be able to do. Three major studies last year alone prove that NBCTs are among the most effective in the country.

“While the research tells us that NBCTs are making gains with all students, we also know that they are particularly effective when working with our most needy students,” said Gov. Barnes. “As a former governor, I know how welcome these data are right now to state and district leaders who continue to support this program in a tight economy.”

Illinois allocates $4.5 million per year for stipends and mentoring support to NBCTs, including $3,000 per year for the 10-year life of the certificate. With the rapidly growing number of NBCTs in Illinois, the state will have to increase that allocation this year to roughly $7 million to sustain that commitment.

The Chicago Public Education Fund, a venture philanthropy that invests dollars and ideas in leadership programs throughout Chicago Public Schools, rewarded Chicago teachers receiving this certification with a one-time gift of $2,000 as part of its $2.4 million commitment to National Board Certification.

“Our goal is to increase the number of NBCTs in the schools that need them the most,” The Fund’s president, Janet Knupp, said. “Research consistently shows that teacher quality is the single most important factor in how our kids do in school. We must take steps to reward our most accomplished teachers and boost their numbers in the high-poverty schools where kids truly need the help.”

In keeping with that goal, Bruce Rauner, chairman of the venture capital firm GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC and a member of The Fund’s board of directors, announced a personal commitment of $1 million to boost the number of NBCTs in Chicago.

“The first step toward improving the performance of the city’s schools lies in making sure we have the best possible teachers in our classrooms,” Rauner said.

NBPTS President Joseph Aguerrebere suggested that the summit is the next step. “We have a chance to go beyond seeing National Board Certification as merely an advanced certification for a niche group of leaders,” Aguerrebere said. “This process can serve as a catalyst for changes in how we support, value and leverage accomplished teaching.”

In 2004, more than 8,000 teachers nationwide achieved National Board Certification, bringing the total nationwide to 40,200. Illinois ranks 6th among the states with 1,238 NBCTs.

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As a venture capital fund for public education, The Chicago Public Education Fund is an unprecedented catalyst for improving school leadership and student achievement system wide. Launched by a group of corporate and civic leaders, The Fund brings private sector dollars and expertise to high-impact programs aligned with Chicago Public Schools priorities. Find out more at www.cpef.org.

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