The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting excellence in education. Founded in 1987, the National Board improves teaching and student learning by enhancing overall educator effectiveness and recognizing and rewarding highly accomplished educators. The National Board has defined standards of accomplished teaching practice – what teachers should know and be able to do. These standards were set by teachers for teachers to ensure that students are taught by highly accomplished teachers. The teachers who meet the standards through a voluntary process earn their National Board Certification – the profession’s highest mark of accomplished teaching. Research shows that students of Board-certified teachers show greater educational gains than other students. We believe that Board certification is part of a career continuum for teachers – beginning with pre-service and progressing through accomplished teaching and teacher leadership. More than 118,000 teachers have earned their Board certification to date.