A limited number of full and partial candidate subsidies are available to Texas teachers who wish to pursue voluntary teacher certification under the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

These subsidies have been provided by the NBPTS and by Washington Mutual, Inc., through its WaMu Teacher Scholarship Fund. However, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) is coordinating the selection of Texas teachers to receive the subsidies. These materials provide basic information about how teachers may apply for the candidate subsidies through SBEC.

Please note that the State of Texas currently offers no professional or financial incentives or rewards for obtaining the NBPTS certification. Funds for the subsidy are provided by the NBPTS and Washington Mutual, not the State of Texas, to encourage and assist teachers in seeking the certification; the SBEC is serving only as coordinator for the candidate subsidy program. School districts, professional organizations, and others may wish to consider implementing local incentives and rewards for teachers who successfully complete the rigorous NBPTS process.

For information, click on the following items:

• August 2001 SBEC notification letter sent to school campuses, education service centers, and other organizations.

• SBEC Instructions for Applying for the NBPTS Candidate Subsidy (includes the SBEC application form). NOTE: The SBEC application form can be printed from this page; however, it must be submitted to SBEC via paper (no electronic submission) simultaneously with the teacher's NBPTS application and initial payment (as required). In addition to these instructions, a NBPTS Guide to National Board Certification 2001-2002 is required to apply for the subsidy and NBPTS certification.

If you have questions or need materials:

• For questions relating to the NBPTS certification and assessments, or to order a NBPTS guide or other NBPTS materials, contact the National Board at 1-800-22-TEACH or www.nbpts.org. NOTE: The NBPTS guide is available for viewing at this website; however, the paper version of the guide is necessary in order to complete the NBPTS scannable application form.

• If you have questions relating to the subsidy process or would like to request a NBPTS guide, contact SBEC toll free at 1 (888) 863-5880 or by e-mail at sbec@sbec.state.tx.us. NOTE: AS OF 8/11/04, THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS NO LONGER VALID - TO E-MAIL SBEC PLEASE CLICK HERE.