National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

National Board Certification is part of the growing education reform movement that is advancing student learning, improving teaching and making schools better! Teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met high standards through study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. National Board Certification complements, but does not replace, a state's teacher license. It is valid for five years, after which NBCTs can seek certification renewal.  

National Board Certification is achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary, performance-based assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do. Candidate portfolio assessments are reviewed and scored by trained teachers who currently teach in the same certificate area as the teacher candidate.

There are two National Board Certified programs governed by statute (20-A MRSA §13013-A).  

• For teachers who have not yet achieved National Board Certification, a scholarship program exists to provide funds to help defray certification cost.
• For teachers who have already achieved National Board Certification, there is a salary supplement program.

In both cases, applications are submitted to the Maine DOE by a teacher’s district. Please see below for an overview of these two valuable programs, as well as our streamlined application procedures. Applications for both programs will open on August 14. 
 

NBPTS Salary Supplement 

Salary Supplement

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification

Per 20-A MRS §13013-A, any public school teacher or a teacher in a publicly supported secondary school who has attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or its successor organization, no later than July 1 of the fiscal year is eligible to receive the annual supplement for the school year. Teachers who receive their certification after July 1 will become eligible for the annual supplement during the next school year. As long as the eligibility requirements are met and the certificate is valid, the annual salary supplement must be provided.

The amount of the salary supplement for each fiscal year is appropriated by the Legislature per 20-A MRSA §15689-A (19) and may be prorated to a lesser amount, if necessary. As outlined in statute, free and reduced poverty levels are determined by the annual free and reduced lunch data collection. The FY24 ED 534 which determined 2024-2025 school year salary supplement award amounts is available here (FY2024 ED534).  

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Currently employed as a teacher for the 2024-2025 school year in a School Administrative Unit, publicly funded secondary school, education service center (ECS) as authorized under chapter 123, or CTE Region.
• Received National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certificate by July 1 of the fiscal year.

• NBPTS Certificate has not expired. 

• A copy of NBPTS Certificate is either already on file at the Maine DOE or will be emailed.

Eligible Position Titles:

• Classroom Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Literacy Specialist
• Long-term Substitute Teacher
• Library Media Specialist
• School Counselor*
• Teacher Leaders
• Teaching Principals (Stipend amount will be prorated and assessed only to the teaching portion of this position)

*Note: This supplement does not include School Counselors that have attained certification from the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc.

Salary Supplement Application Procedure

By October 15th of each year, the superintendent of schools of a School Administrative Unit (SAU) or the Director of a publicly supported secondary school, Education Service Center (under Chapter 123), or CTE Region must file with the Commissioner a certified list of national board-certified teachers employed by the SAU, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE Region who are eligible to receive the salary supplement.

We are instituting a new application procedure. Please complete the form linked below, which will capture information for each of your eligible teachers. The superintendent/director will then receive an email requesting certification of this information.

Salary Supplement Application Link

[Please note, the application has now closed for 2024-25. Please reach out to Christina O'Neal, christina.l.oneal@maine.gov, with any inquiries.]

2024-25 National Board Salary Supplement Form
(Hosted by Microsoft Forms)

Method of Payment to a Qualifying School Administrative Unit

Once the eligibility has been verified for each teacher and the total calculated for each School Administrative Unit (SAU), education service center (under Chapter 123), publicly supported secondary school, or CTE Region, a separate payment will be issued to the eligible SAU, school, or CTE Region. The annual salary supplement must be paid to school administrative units and publicly supported secondary schools before February 15th of each year. A provision in the law, 20-A MRSA §13013-A(4), allows for receipt of these additional state funds and payment of the funds to eligible teachers without a special meeting of the local governing body.

Method of Payment to Eligible National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teachers

The Department of Education is required to provide a salary supplement to school administrative units and publicly supported secondary schools for eligible teachers no later than February 15th of each year.

For purposes of the retirement system, the salary supplement must be added to the teacher's base salary and must be considered in the calculation for contributions to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. NOTE: The supplement should NOT be added to the base salary amount reported in the MEDMS Staff File, this is considered additional compensation and is taxable income, but is not part of the base salary reported in MEDMS.

If a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certified teacher is no longer employed as a teacher, the supplement ceases.

NBPTS Scholarship 

Scholarship Fund

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification

The National Board Certification Scholarship Fund was established by State law* to encourage teachers to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or its successor organization.  (*20-A MRSA §13013-A)

A school administrative unit, or a publicly supported secondary school, may request scholarship funds on behalf of its teachers who meet the requirements.

The department shall award an amount equal to the cost of the certification program less any other funds received by the applicant to not more than 30 teachers accepted into the certification program. For the current fiscal year, the department shall allocate $75,000 to the scholarship fund.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

In order to receive scholarship funds on behalf of a teacher, the school administrative unit or a publicly supported secondary school must certify to the department that the teacher:

• Is currently employed by a school administrative unit or a publicly supported secondary school;
• Has completed at least 3 years of teaching in the State;
• Has agreed to mentor at least one other teacher employed in the State through the national board certification process to apply to and enroll in the certification program;
• Has provided documentation of acceptance into the certification program;
• Has or will provide Proof of Purchase for all Eligible Components; and
• Has disclosed any other funds received to cover the cost of the certification program.

 

Scholarships will fund first attempt for Components 1 - 4. Scholarship funds may not be used for retakes, renewals, or Maintenance of Certification (MOC). The National Board Scholarship is a reimbursement for tuition. Scholarships will be awarded based on the following priorities:

1. Applicant has already started the process (submitted one or more components to NBPTS).
2. Applicant is employed in a high-needs school (at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch).

Please note: the amount of the payment for the cost of enrollment in the certificate program less any other funds received by the applicant will be sent to the School Administrative Unit (SAU), publicly supported secondary school, or CTE Region until the limited amount of 30 teachers have received funds from the scholarship program.

The School Administrative Unit, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE Region is then responsible for issuing the scholarship funds to the eligible teacher.

Note: The National Board Scholarship is a reimbursement for tuition, not a salary supplement. Coding of Scholarship payments is different than the Salary Supplement. Questions on how to code these can be directed to Paula Gravelle on Maine DOE's School Finance Team.

Scholarship Application Procedure

By October 15th of each year, per statute, the Superintendent of Schools of a School Administrative Unit (SAU) or the Director of a publicly supported secondary school, Education Service Center (under Chapter 123), or CTE Region requests scholarship funds on behalf of a teacher who has met all the eligibility requirements.

The School Administrative Unit, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE Region are responsible to ensure that all eligibility requirements are met and that copies of supporting documentation are kept on file and available upon request by the Commissioner's office.

We are instituting a new application procedure. Please complete the form linked below, which will capture information for each of your eligible teachers. The superintendent/director will then receive an email requesting certification of this information.

Scholarship Application Link

[Please note, the application has now closed for 2024-25. Please reach out to Christina O'Neal, christina.l.oneal@maine.gov, with any inquiries.]

2024-25 National Board Scholarship Form
(Hosted by Microsoft Forms)

Important Dates:

• August 14 – October 15: Scholarship application window is open
• November 15: Scholarship applicant notification
• December 15: Scholarship funds sent to School Administrative Units, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE region