Seeking Public Comment on "National Board Certified" Related Service Providers

​Hello All,
FYI: Short and Sweet:
What: $5,000: Possible stipend to “National Board Certified” Related Service Providers working in Alaskan schools. 
What to Do: We need Alaskan Educator RSPs to email the Alaska The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) on/before March 3rd to provide written testimony to AMEND 4 AAC 12.412, Section (d) which defines “National board certification”.  We want DEED (aka the Regulators) to:

1. Amend the regulations to include Related Service Providers holding National Certifications from their professional boards/bodies. 
2. Amend the regulations to specify that any incentive paid for national certifications be paid in such a way to count towards the educator's pension calculations. 

Email: The Department of Education and Early Development will accept comments by electronic mail at [email protected]. PLEASE EMAIL ON/BEFORE MONDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2025 (yes, that is the accurate email). 
 
Additional Detailed Info:
Current Language we want regulators (DEED) to amend (from House Bill 230):
"national board certification" means individual achievement of national professional teaching standards as certified by a nationally recognized board."
(https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/33?Hsid=HB0230D)
 
The Following Should be Amended:
4 AAC 12.412. National board certification: (d) In this section, "national board certification" has the meaning given in AS 14.20.225.
https://education.alaska.gov/state_board/january-2025/6.1A%204%20AAC%2012_20642906%20Proposed%20Regulations%2012-10-24.pdf
 
We Want The Following Amendments to the Regulations:

1. Amend the regulations to include Related Service Providers holding National Certifications from their professional boards/bodies. 
2. Amend the regulations to specify that any incentive paid for national certifications be paid in such a way to count towards the educator's pension calculations. 

 
This is Based on a 1/22/2025 meeting of the State Board of Education and Early Development:
♦ SUGGESTED MOTION I move the State Board of Education & Early Development post for public comment the proposed revisions to......... and 4 AAC 12.412. National Board Certification, providing reporting dates and requirements for national board certification incentive and reimbursement payments.
https://education.alaska.gov/state_board/january-2025/10A%20Cover%20Memo%20Business%20Meeting%20-%20National%20Board%20Certification%20and%20Retired%20Teacher.pdf
 
The Timeline to Provide Written Testimony:
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Executive Secretary to the Board, Kathijo Jolin at P. O. Box 110500, 333 Willoughby Ave. 9th Floor, Juneau, AK 99811. Additionally, the Department of Education and Early Development will accept comments by electronic mail at [email protected]. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 PM on March 4, 2025. (HOWEVER, WE ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDING GETTING IT IN BY MARCH 3rd.)
https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=218356
 
The Timeline To Provide Oral Comments:
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on March 11, 2025, by calling 1-253-205-0468 (toll free) and selecting *9 on your phone’s keypad (Meeting ID 993 9148 2721).  The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 am to 10:00 am and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 9:30 am who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, the State Board of Education’s chair of the Board, James Fields, may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.
https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=218356
 
 We are Doing This To Get:
"an incentive payment of $5,000 to each teacher who is employed by the district or the department and who holds a current and valid national board certification."
 
From The News:
https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/08/28/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-bill-becomes-law-in-alaska-without-gov-dunleavys-signature/