There are two National Board Certification programs governed by Maine State Statute (20-A MRSA Section 13013-A):
- For teachers who have not yet achieved National Board Certification, a scholarship program exists to provide funds to help defray certification costs.
- For teachers who have already achieved National Board Certification, there is a salary supplement program.
In both cases, applications are submitted to the Maine Department of Education (DOE) by a teacher’s school administrative unit (SAU). Please see below for an overview of these two valuable programs and our streamlined application procedures.
Applications for both programs will open on August 14. This is a wonderful way to support and reward eligible teachers, and we would encourage educators to apply.
Scholarship Funds for Teachers: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification
The National Board Certification Scholarship Fund was established by State law (20-A MRSA Section 13013-A) to encourage teachers to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or its successor organization.
An SAU, or a publicly supported secondary school, may request scholarship funds on behalf of its teachers who meet the eligibility requirements. For further details, please visit the Maine DOE webpage about the National Board Certification Scholarship.
Scholarship Funds Application Procedure
By October 15 of each year, per statute, the superintendent of schools of an SAU or the director of a publicly supported secondary school, Education Service Center (under Chapter 123), or career and technical education (CTE) region, may request scholarship funds on behalf of a teacher who has met all the eligibility requirements.
Please complete the form: 2026-27 National Board Scholarship Form
Important Dates:
- August 14 – October 15: Scholarship application window is open
- November 15: Scholarship applicant notification
- December 15: Scholarship funds sent to SAUs, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE region
Salary Supplements for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards(NBPTS) Certified Teachers
Per statute (20-A MRSA Section 13013-A), any public school teacher or a teacher in a publicly supported secondary school who has attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards no later than July 1 of the fiscal year and meets eligibility requirements shall receive the annual supplement for the school year.
The amount of the salary supplement for each fiscal year is appropriated by the Maine State Legislature. As outlined in statute, the amount of salary supplement will be determined by the percentage of a school’s economically disadvantaged student population during the year the supplement is provided, based on one of two methods:
- Free and reduced price lunch qualifications under Chapter 223, subchapter 7 (see the FY2026 ED534) or
- Percentage of students identified as economically disadvantaged for subsidy purposes under chapter 606-B.
For further details, please visit the Maine DOE webpage, National Board Certification Salary Supplements.
Salary Supplements Application Procedure
By October 15 of each year, the superintendent of schools of an SAU or the director of a publicly supported secondary school, Education Service Center (under Chapter 123), or CTE region must file with the Commissioner a certified list of national board-certified teachers employed by the SAU, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE region who are eligible to receive the salary supplement.
Please complete the form: 2026-27 National Board Salary Supplement Form
Important Dates:
- August 14 – October 15: Salary supplement application window is open
- By February 15: Salary supplement funds sent to SAUs, publicly supported secondary school, or CTE region
With further questions about either of these opportunities, please reach out to Christina O’Neal, Maine DOE Educator Excellence Coordinator, at christina.l.oneal@maine.gov.
Maine DOE Newsroom 