The Educational Theatre Association has been issued a formal invitation to participate in the field tests of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification exams for Career and Technical Education and English Language Arts. The invitation came about as a result of our ongoing dialogue with NBPTS around the interest of our members in achieving Board certification as theatre educators. In a survey of adult members conducted in 2014, seventy-nine percent said they would seek Board certification if it were available. While NPBTS is currently in a freeze on adding new subject areas, they have been receptive to our concerns and open to a continued dialogue about the needs of EdTA’s professional members.
This invitation may or may not interest you, depending perhaps on your own training and career goals. That said, the EdTA survey also noted that fifty-two percent of the 1,200 respondents taught other subjects areas. Based on our previous surveys, that’s likely English for many of you, so the opportunity to review the new Board exams (and perhaps pursue Board certification in ELA) might appeal to you. Regarding CTE, the rise of Career and Technical programs that address performing arts is something that we have been monitoring for the past several years. While EdTA has fewer members with dual certification that includes CTE, the opportunity to be recognized for mastery and to expand one’s teaching and program options has made CTE certification more attractive for many theatre educators. For those of you already CTE certified, here’s your chance to offer your expertise on the new exam, which does include some aspects of technical theatre in one of its specialized career pathways. If you’re not CTE certified, this opportunity might be a perfect start to earn that recognition.
Here’s the invitation from NBPTS:
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards would like to invite you to participate in field testing the new certification assessment. Of particular interest to those of you in the EdTA community will be participation in the field testing of Component 1: Content Knowledge in the certificate areas of Career and Technical Education (CTE), which has newly revised Standards organized around eight pathways or specialty areas, and English Language Arts.
Component 1 is a computer-based assessment completed at a test center in your region. The Content Knowledge field test consists of two portions that you can register for separately. One portion is the Constructed Response Items and the other portion is the Selected Response Items. Field testing appointments for both portions will be April-August 2015 with exam dates varying depending on certificate area.
As a token of thanks from the National Board, field test participants will be eligible to receive:
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Recognition: A letter of commendation from the National Board for your commitment to this effort.
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CEUs: The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is offering two (2) Continuing Education Units ($75 per CEU) or one (1) graduate credit ($300 per credit) to the participants in the Component 1 phase 2 – “Content Knowledge” Field Test. For a syllabus of requirements and how to enroll directions for the 2015 Spring and Summer Terms, visit - http://www.uccs.edu/extendedstudies/teachers.html click “NBPTS Programs.”
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards would like to invite you participate in field testing the new certification assessment. Of particular interest to those of you in the EdTA community will be participation in the field testing of Component 1: Content Knowledge in the certificate areas of Career and Technical Education (CTE), which has newly revised Standards organized around eight pathways or specialty areas, and English Language Arts.
Component 1 is a computer-based assessment completed at a test center in your region. The Content Knowledge field test consists of two portions that you can register for separately. One portion is the Constructed Response Items and the other portion is the Selected Response Items. Field testing appointments for both portions will be April-August 2015 with exam dates varying depending on certificate area.
As a token of thanks from the National Board, field test participants will be eligible to receive:
-
Recognition: A letter of commendation from the National Board for your commitment to this effort.
-
CEUs: The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is offering two (2) Continuing Education Units ($75 per CEU) or one (1) graduate credit ($300 per credit) to the participants in the Component 1 phase 2 – “Content Knowledge” Field Test. For a syllabus of requirements and how to enroll directions for the 2015 Spring and Summer Terms, visit - http://www.uccs.edu/extendedstudies/teachers.html click “NBPTS Programs.”
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Gift cards: Component 1: Content Knowledge - Up to $50 in either Amazon or Powell's Books gift cards, $25 upon successful completion of each online testing appointment (Selected Response Items, Constructed Response Items).
It is not necessary to be Board certified to participate, and you can pursue certification as a candidate while taking part in the field tests. For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.boardcertifiedteachers.org/national-board-field-tests.