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Gov. Gregoire Highlights Increase in Number of National Board Certified Teachers

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2008

TACOMA � A record number of Washington teachers will undergo the tough national board certification process this year, and their growing numbers are good for the education of children in this state, Gov. Chris Gregoire said today.

�Every child in Washington should have a chance at a good, rewarding life. And that has to start with a good education,� Gregoire said. �The most important influence on student learning is the quality of the teacher. We�ve invested in teacher-excellence and it�s working.�

More than 1,800 Washington teachers now have national certification, which is recognized as the best measure of teacher effectiveness. The state expects a near doubling of national certified teachers in 2008, as more than 1,600 teachers currently are candidates for certification. Only four other states added more new certified teachers than the 485 Washington added last year.

Gregoire noted that the certification program has been available in the past, but during the 2007 session, the Legislature adopted her recommendation that a salary bonus provided to nationally certified teachers become an ongoing policy, not a decision made during the annual budget process. The Legislature also increased the annual salary bonus for certified teachers to $5,000 a year, indexed for inflation. In addition, a new bonus of an additional $5,000 per year was approved for nationally certified teachers working in struggling schools, those defined as having at least 70 percent of their students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Teachers have to pay $3,500 to go through the certification process, which includes nearly a year of work.

The governor highlighted benefits of the program � to teachers as well as students � during a visit to Jason Lee Middle School in Tacoma. Attending were state schools Superintendent Terry Bergeson and state Senator Debbie Regala. Also present were Tacoma School Superintendent Art Jarvis, Jason Lee Principal Harjeet Sandhu and about a dozen Tacoma teachers who have passed the rigorous process necessary to become nationally board certified.

�It has taken a while to grow this program and the Washington Education Association and Superintendent Bergeson should be thanked for the support they have given.� Gregoire added. �We�re here today to show how this program is working to help provide world-class education to our students and to encourage more teachers to participate in it.�

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