Recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 218
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 218) aims to recognize and honor teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification, a voluntary advanced credential that demonstrates high standards of teaching excellence. It highlights the value of these certified teachers in improving student outcomes and addresses educational challenges like learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses that provide supporting facts, such as:
- National Board Certification is based on standards created by teachers to show skills in advancing student learning.
- Students of certified teachers, especially low-income ones, achieve better results, with benefits like increased lifetime earnings (e.g., $48,000 more from a certified math teacher).
- Certified teachers help recover learning lost during the pandemic, equivalent to 1-2 months of extra instruction per year.
- They often take on leadership roles (e.g., mentors, principals) and have higher retention rates, helping with teacher shortages.
- Many states offer salary incentives, particularly in high-needs schools, and certified teachers value this certification highly.
- In 2024, over 4,300 teachers newly earned it, and nearly 4,900 maintained it; as of March 2025, there are 141,464 certified teachers nationwide.
The core "Resolved" section directs the House of Representatives to:
- Honor certified teachers as of March 2025.
- Acknowledge their contributions to student success.
- Encourage educators, school leaders, districts, and states to support more certifications through incentives and resources.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or policies. It does not create new mandates, funding, or regulations.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies and education systems: May inspire federal or state education departments to prioritize support for certifications, potentially improving teacher quality and retention without direct costs.
- On citizens: Benefits students, particularly in under-resourced schools (e.g., Title I schools, where 47% of certified teachers serve), by promoting better teaching and addressing staffing shortages.
- On international relations: No direct impact, as it focuses on domestic U.S. education.
Overall, the resolution could indirectly boost teacher morale and encourage more professionals to pursue certification, leading to stronger public schools.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Teachers: Especially those pursuing or holding National Board Certification, who gain recognition and potential incentives.
- Students: Particularly low-income and those in high-needs schools, who benefit from certified teachers' expertise.
- Schools and districts: Encouraged to promote certifications, which could help with leadership and retention.
- States and educators/administrators: 29 states already offer incentives; the resolution urges broader support.
- Bipartisan lawmakers: Introduced by a diverse group of representatives, signaling cross-party agreement on education priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: None significant, as this is a simple resolution expressing congressional sentiment without legal force or constitutional questions. It aligns with the House's role in recognizing achievements.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (over 25 cosponsors from both parties) for valuing educators, potentially influencing future education funding or policies. It underscores national priorities like equity in education and pandemic recovery without partisan debate.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (28)
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Bynum, Janelle [D-OR-5], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-03-11: Submitted in House
- 2025-03-11: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing and honoring teachers who have earned or maintained National Board Certification. — issued 2025-03-11 — PDF (3 pages)