LOS ANGELES, CA. [July 11, 2024] – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), in generous partnership with Ballmer Group, announced a new multi-million dollar initiative to recruit Black teachers in California to be new candidates for National Board certification over the next three years. The new program, called the California Black Educator Initiative (CBEI), will offer Black educators pursuing National Board certification in California opportunities for community building, incentives, professional learning, and a menu of support.
The initiative, focusing on supporting 900 Black educators predominantly in the Los Angeles area, is set to impact the community significantly. By enhancing support programs, fostering candidate retention, and creating more leadership opportunities, the initiative will increase the number of Black National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and improve teacher retention and outcomes for students and communities. This is a beacon of hope for the future of education in California.
“We at the National Board are not just excited about the new California Black Educator Initiative, we are deeply committed to it,” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, President and CEO of NBPTS. “This partnership is a testament to our dedication to supporting Black educators in Los Angeles and across California. This initiative will allow us to support large numbers of Black educators on their National Board journeys, which will put more accomplished teachers in classrooms around the country, address the teacher shortage, and increase diversity and equity in education. We value and appreciate the contributions of Black educators and are committed to their success.”
The California Black Educator Initiative also includes a valuable research component that will provide a solid foundation for maintaining and expanding funding support in the future. By leveraging the lessons learned, this initiative can be used as a model to be replicated in other states.
California is ideally positioned for the accelerated growth of NBCTs. The National Board Incentive Program, which went into effect in 2021, grants up to $25,000 to all NBCTs who agree to teach at high-priority schools and $2,500 in fee support for candidates pursuing Board Certification. More information about the program can be found at the California Department of Education.
For more information about the California Black Educator Initiative, contact Bootsie Battle-Holt, NBCT, Director of Strategic Partnerships—West Coast, at bbattle-holt@nbpts.org
###
About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org):
The founding mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards, and advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers mean better learning for students.
About Ballmer Group:
Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that can impact economic mobility – such as early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice – and we support leaders and organizations that focus on undoing systemic racism and the barriers it has created. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder – we have a presence and invest deeply in southeast Michigan, Washington state, and Los Angeles County. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org.