An analysis of local decision-making process impacting the approval of NBPTS stipends.

摘要

The purpose of this study is to explore the pre-decision processes that led to approval of local stipends for teachers who completed National Board certification in two South Carolina school districts. Specifically, in the two school districts chosen for analysis, the researcher desires to conduct a case study of these processes to determine the conditions under which a policy was approved to award stipends to National Board certified teachers. Recognizing the finite status of resources and how vital the effective allocations of these limited funds are to the educational process, understanding the decision-making process utilized to distribute resources and variables that influenced the process are critical to the concept of resource allocation.; The significance of this study is deeply rooted in the practical utilization of the NBPTS certification process by local schools districts. Over one hundred million dollars have been allocated to the NBPTS by the federal government and many state legislatures have committed vast resources to support what they believe is an effort to improve teaching and learning in American classrooms. Critics have recognized a different purpose in utilization of the NBPTS process at the local level, specifically driven by the perceptions and actions of local policy makers. Local districts have been accused of using national certification as a means to raise teacher pay; thereby, they cement their position and ability to compete for teachers in the labor market. If local districts are using NBPTS certification primarily as an avenue to permit accomplished teachers to earn more, then the NBPTS purpose of improving teaching and learning in the classroom is not the main objective in local implementation.; Considering the high percentage of policy actors within this group (65%) that recognized an organizational emphasis on programs that enhance student achievement, there appeared to be inconsistency between the organizational emphasis of student achievement and the perceived impact of the decision to grant local stipends to National Board certified teachers.