Washington State National Board Certified Teacher Bonus

Washington offers a bonus to all eligible K-12 public school National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT).

  • WAC 392-140-972 lists the roles, as annually reported by school districts, that are eligible or ineligible for the NBCT bonuses.
  • WAC 392-140-973 describes the eligibility requirements for receiving the NBCT bonuses.
  • WAC 392-140-974 describes the administrative procedures for issuing NBCT bonuses.

Both the NBCT "base" bonus and the "High Poverty Schools" bonus remain intact in the 2025-2026 Washington state budget.

  • Teachers who hold a valid certificate from National Boards for the entire duration of the 2025-2026 school year will receive an annual bonus of $6,514.
  • Teachers in qualifying "High Poverty Schools" will receive an additional bonus of up to $5,000. This additional bonus is based on the teacher's percentage of time spent at the qualifying high poverty school (full-time equivalent (FTE) as reported by the employer).
  • Teachers who attain a valid certificate from National Boards during the 2025-2026 school year will receive 60% of their first annual bonus for a total of $3,908.40, and, if eligible, 60% of the High Poverty Schools bonus from the prorated total. They will receive the full bonus the following school year(s), if eligible.
    • The National Board Conditional Loan is repaid by a reduction of $1,425 from a newly-certified NBCT's first bonus payment, if applicable.

OSPI compiles the list of bonus-eligible NBCTs each year after score release to include those newly certified and those identified on district personnel reporting (October 1 snapshot). It is the responsibility of the NBCT to keep their certificate status up to date with their school district.

Districts are notified of individual NBCT bonus totals, plus the employer's portion of mandatory benefits, in the spring. Districts may request manual adjustments from OSPI. Districts must pay the full lump sum bonus to eligible NBCTs between the July apportionment and August 31. The actual lump sum payment to teachers will be less than the full bonus amount as it is subject to personal payroll deductions for federal withholding tax, FICA, pension contributions, etc.

High Poverty Schools Lists

A list of schools designated as "high poverty" for the National Board bonus:

Past School Lists

Bonus Changes

Effective in the 2021-2022 school year only

  • For the purposes of High Poverty Schools designation, a school's percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals as of October 1, 2019, will carry over into the 2021-2022 High Poverty Schools list, if greater than the October 1, 2020 percentages used to designate 2021-2022 High Poverty Schools.

Effective beginning with the 2019-2020 school year

  • OSPI will review the reported free and reduced-price lunch thresholds at schools participating in Provision 2 two years prior to Provision 2 participation. NBCTs at schools that meet the required threshold in either two years to be considered "High Poverty Schools" will be eligible for the "High Poverty Schools" bonus.

Effective beginning with the 2017-2018 school year

  • OSPI will review the reported free and reduced-price lunch thresholds at schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) two years prior to CEP participation. NBCTs at schools that meet the required threshold in either two years to be considered "High Poverty Schools" will be eligible for the "High Poverty Schools" bonus.

Effective beginning with the 2011-2012 school year

  • Teachers who attain a valid certificate during the current school year will receive sixty percent of the annual bonus to be paid in a lump sum amount. This is for the first year of the bonus only; and newly certified NBCTs will receive the full bonus amount in subsequent years
  • Newly certified NBCTs will receive sixty percent of the high poverty school bonus (if eligible) for an amount up to $3,000 for the first year only
  • OSPI shall pay bonuses to districts in the July apportionment of each given year. Districts are required to make all payments to eligible NBCTs no later than their September payroll

Effective beginning with the 2010-2011 school year

  • Principals and vice principals who hold a valid certificate from the National Board are no longer eligible to receive a bonus