A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE: October 18, 2000	Contact:         Jim Bradshaw (202) 401-2310

STATEMENT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION RICHARD W. RILEY
On the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' study that
Teachers with National Board Certification outperform others

The study released today clearly shows board certification makes for better teaching and learning. The percentage of student work that showed strong learning was more than double among students taught by board-certified teachers versus those taught by non-certified teachers (70-30 percent). The study also shows that board certified teachers know their subjects and know how to teach ? both essentials for effective teachers. Although research shows that qualified teachers are the most important in-school factor in improving student achievement, more than 30 percent of newly hired teachers are entering the teaching profession without full certification, more than 11 percent enter the field with no license at all, and more than one-quarter of public school teachers are teaching out-of-field.

It is time we took a good look at the way we train our teachers and the continuing support we give them. I commend the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for its efforts in striving to address this critical issue.

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