Thanks to Jenna for highlighting the continuing folly of subsidizing teacher certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There is no evidence that the NBPTS certification program does anything at all to increase teacher ability. The whole thing is suffused with “progressive education” silliness. Alas, state law guarantees that all teachers who want to go for this certification will have the full application cost paid by the state ($2,300 per teacher last year) and those who get it receive a 12% pay boost.
This absurd policy cost the state more than $25 million this year and the cost will continue to mount as more and more teachers pursue the fat financial payoff. “Teaching excellence” — what a joke.
