How Valid are the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Assessments for Predicting the Quality of Actual Classroom Teaching and Learning? Results of Six Mini Case Studies

Abstract

Six mini case studies of teachers certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) were completed using systematic classroom observations, individual teacher interviews, and semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with school site administrators and colleague teachers. Classroom teaching practices of six teachers (2 elementary, 2 middle/Jr. High, 2 High School) in a large southeastern urban district were assessed by two trained observers, and semi-structured interviews with school-site personnel were completed by two additional trained researchers. The findings clearly showed considerable variation among these teachers in the quality of teaching and learning in their daily practices. Two teachers were clearly exemplary, two were rather average, and two were considered rather ineffective in the quality of classroom teaching and learning. Interviews with school-site personnel were somewhat mixed in corroborating findings from actual classroom observations and assessments. Implications of the findings for the validity of NBPTS certification in everyday practice, the meaning of NBPTS certification, and policy decisions such as performance-based pay supplements for NBPTS certified teachers are discussed.