Recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification.
This is a House resolution (H. Res. 218) introduced in March 2025 that recognizes and honors teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification (NBC). The resolution describes NBC as a rigorous, standards-based credential developed by teachers for teachers to demonstrate excellence in teaching and to advance student learning. It cites research linking NBC to stronger student outcomes, including gains for low-income students, and notes NBC’s role in addressing COVID-19 learning loss, leadership opportunities for NBC teachers, and higher retention rates. The resolution provides current statistics on NBC in the profession (numbers of first-time certifications, maintaining certification, total NBCTs) and calls on educators, administrators, districts, and states to promote NBC growth by offering incentives and support. It is a non-binding statement of the House expressing appreciation and urging action; it does not create new laws or funding.
Key Points
- 1National Board Certification is described as professional teaching excellence based on rigorous, teachers-developed standards to improve student learning outcomes.
- 2Research cited in the resolution indicates NBC-supported teachers contribute to higher student achievement, with notable impact for low-income students; mathematics NBCs are linked to higher lifetime earnings for students.
- 3NBC teachers are highlighted as contributors to reducing learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic, helping accelerate student learning by roughly 1–2 months per school year.
- 4NBC teachers often take on leadership roles (mentors, administrators, district leaders) and are more likely to remain in the teaching profession, aiding retention and addressing staffing shortages.
- 5The resolution notes current landscape data: 29 states provide salary incentives for NBCs (13 of which prioritize incentives in high-need schools); 47% of NBCTs serve students in Title I schools; in 2024, 4,355 teachers earned NBC for the first time and 4,884 maintained it; total NBCTs counted as 141,464 as of March 2025. The House encourages expanding NBC through incentives and support.