The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced this month that 9,600 teachers nationwide -- including 300 in Maryland -- earned the prestigious National Board Certification in 2008. This advanced certification is voluntary for teachers, who undergo months of extra work preparing a portfolio, often in exchange for increased pay from school districts.

Maryland ranks ninth nationwide in the growth it saw this year and 15th for its total number of teachers with National Board Certification (1,364). Montgomery County had 101 new National Board Certified teachers this year, ranking 10th among school districts nationwide. Prince George's County had 56, ranking 20th. According to the organization's online directory, only two of the newly certified teachers are in Baltimore, bringing the city's total number of teachers with the certification to 34.

The largest numbers of National Board Certified teachers in Maryland are located in Montgomery County (478), Anne Arundel County (159), Prince George's County (133), Baltimore County (80) and Carroll County (80).