SEARCY, Ark. — Beginning in 2004, Harding University began offering graduate courses to assist educators through the National Board Certification process from the board’s Professional Teaching Standards. Since then, Harding has significantly helped increase the number of certified teachers in Arkansas.

Fifty-three of Arkansas’ newly certified National Board Certified Teachers participated in the classes offered at Harding University. Consistently, more than 50 percent of the candidates who participate in these graduate courses achieve certification the first year, compared to a national average of 40 percent. More than 84 percent of those who began the class in 2009 certified this year. Annually, Harding University supports more than 25 percent of new NBCTs.

Arkansas recently received recognition as having tripled the number of teachers certified through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) program. Over the past five years, the number of National Board Certified Teachers in Arkansas increased by 233 percent, bringing the total number of NBCTs to 2,000. During 2011, 6,266 teachers were certified nationwide, 311 of those in Arkansas resulting in an 18.4 percent increase.

“The National Board’s rigorous assessments are parallel to the kind of performance tests that Certified Public Accountants, Architects and Engineers take in order to meet the high standards in their respective professions,” said Dr. Clara Carroll, NBCT and Assistant Dean in the Cannon-Clary College of Education. Additionally, research supports that students of NBCTs make learning gains equivalent to an extra month in school and National Board Certification has a positive impact on student achievement, teacher retention and professional development.