The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), the organization that sets and maintains the standards for teaching excellence, announced today that more than 8,600 teachers and school counselors achieved National Board Certification in 2010. Today's announcement brings the total number of accomplished educators certified by NBPTS to more than 91,000.

Approximately half of all National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) teach in Title I eligible, high-need schools, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. States and districts throughout the country are using system-wide collaborations to transform teaching and learning through NBPTS programs and NBCTs.

A voluntary assessment program designed to develop, recognize and retain accomplished teachers, National Board Certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, NBCTs have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. For more information and statistics that highlight states' participation, visit the National Board website.