Statement by AFT President Sandra Feldman
on National Board Teacher Certification

(The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is announcing that more than 8,100 teachers have qualified to be board certified in 2003. In 2002, 7,886 teachers became board certified.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- National board certification is the gold standard for teacher quality. The increasing numbers of public school teachers who pursue and achieve this rigorous certification demonstrate the wide and growing commitment of teachers to high standards. Federal, state and local education officials must provide the support necessary to make high quality teaching and proven academic programs more widespread so that additional students reap the benefits.

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.