The Effects of NBPTS-Certified Teachers on Student Achievement

In this study we consider the efficacy of a relatively new and widely accepted certification system for teachers established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). To address the limitations in past research on the subject, we utilize a unique database covering the universe of teachers and students in Florida for a four-year span to determine the relationship between NBPTS certification and the impact of teachers on student test scores from both low-stakes and high-stakes exams. We find evidence that NBPTS certification provides a positive signal of teacher productivity in some cases, though the ability of NBPTS certification to identify high quality teachers varies considerably across subjects and grades. There is little evidence that the process of becoming NBPTS certified increases teacher productivity or that NBPTScertified teachers in a school enhance the productivity of their colleagues. JEL Classification: I21, J24