What Financial and Professional Benefits Are Now Law?

House Bill 1187, "The A Plus Education Reform Plan of 2000," has established that National Board Certified Teachers will receive a 10% increase in salary effective with the commencement of the 2000-2001 school year. Previous legislation provides for two days of release time for the candidates to work on their portfolios and prepare for the assessment center. Upon passage of the test, the candidate will be reimbursed the full fee, or reimbursement will be made to the organization sponsoring the candidate. Reimbursement obligates NBCT"S to teach at least one year in a Georgia public school after receipt or otherwise repay the full assessment fee to the state.

The Professional Standards Commission for the State of Georgia has established rules that allow "Georgia teachers achieving NBPTS certification during their five-year renewal cycle to renew clear renewable certificate fields for either the next cycle or the subsequent five-year cycle." Teachers entering Georgia will be able to use NBPTS certification to meet Georgia’s test, teaching of reading, and regency-of-study/experience requirements; however, special education course work will continue to be required, if not previously met.

The state of Georgia has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Contract and will award their highest level certificate to any person who has obtained National Board Certification in an area corresponding to that for which certification is sought, provided the applicant also holds a comparable and valid certificate issued by any member state and has complied with any requirements of the receiving state regarding degrees held, citizenship, and moral, ethical, physical, and mental fitness.