"Effective schools seek to develop and reinforce character traits, such as caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness, through a systematic approach that includes adult modeling, curriculum integration, a positive school climate, and access to comprehensive guidance and counseling services."
—Elementary Makes the Grade! (CDE, 1999)
The California Department of Education advocates incorporating character education into a standards-based educational system in a variety of ways.
Character Education Month
Each year in October, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the President of the State Board of Education emphasize the importance of teaching character education to our students by declaring Character Education Month.
California Education Code Section 233.5(a)
Charges teachers with the task of moral instruction.
Annotated Bibliography
Books, articles, and research on character education.
Resources
- California Partnership for Character Education (Outside Source)
- Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character (Outside Source)
- Character Counts (Outside Source)
- Character Education Partnership (Outside Source)
- Preschool Character Education Training Guide (English) (PDF; Outside Source) | Spanish PDF (Outside Source)
- CharacterPlus (Outside Source)
- Good Character (Outside Source)
- Judicious Discipline (Outside Source)
- LESSON ONE (Outside Source)
- School for Ethical Education (Outside Source)
- University of San Diego Character Development Center (Outside Source)
- What Works Clearinghouse (Outside Source)
- WiseSkills Character Education: Character Education Curriculum, Lessons, Activities,
- Materials, and Resources (Outside Source)
Classroom Materials
The following have been identified as character education classroom materials:
- Character-Based Literacy Program (Outside Source)
- Character Counts (Outside Source)
- Film Clips for Character Education (Outside Source)
- Giraffe Heroes Project (Outside Source)
- Good Character (Outside Source)
- Head, Heart and Hands (H3) (Outside Source)
- Judicious Discipline (Outside Source)
- Lessons in Character (Outside Source)
- LESSON ONE (Outside Source)
- PeaceBuilders (Outside Source)
Funding and Grant Awards
U.S. Department of Education Awards $1.6 Million to Help Students Develop Strong Character and Good Citizenship (Outside Source)
Schools in California, New York, Illinois and South Dakota will share $1.6 million in grants designed to help them implement programs that teach the principles of character development and the responsibilities of citizenship to their students.
Character Education Partnership (CEP) National Schools of Character Awards (Outside Source)
Every year, CEP names ten public and private schools and districts as National Schools of Character for their outstanding work in improving the behavior and learning of their students through character education. Once selected, CEP helps these schools and districts serve as models for other educators.
