Values/Character Education

National Organizations and Programs

• Background and Discussion National Organizations and Programs State Programs Resource Clearinghouses Research References

  Character Counts!
  A voluntary nationwide initiative to support nonpartisan character education. The "six pillars of character" identified by the group include respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, caring, fairness, and citizenship. A Provides resource materials, trainings and awards recognition.
  
  
• The Character Education Partnership
  This partnership was founded in 1993 as a national nonpartisan coalition for character education. The CEP recognizes National Schools of Character which serve as models of exemplary character education practice in the country.
  
   
  • CEP's Eleven principles of effective Character Education
    Principle 1: Promotes core ethical values as the basis of good character
    Principle 2: Defines "character" comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.
    Principle 3: Uses a comprehensive, intentional, proactive, and effective approach to character development.
    Principle 4: Creates a caring school community.
    Principle 5: Provides students with opportunities for moral action.
    Principle 6: Includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed.
    Principle 7: Strives to foster students’ self motivation.
    Principle 8: Engages the school staff as a learning and moral community that shares responsibility for character education and attempts to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.
    Principle 9: Fosters shared moral leadership and long range support of the character education initiative.
    Principle 10: Engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort
    Principle 11: Evaluates the character of the school, the school staff’s functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.
    
    
• Educators for Social Responsibility
  "Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR) helps educators create safe, caring, respectful, and productive learning environments. We also help educators work with young people to develop the social skills, emotional competencies, and qualities of character they need to succeed in school and become contributing members of their communities."
  
  
• The Ethics Resource Center
  ERC offers schools assistance with the establishment and improvement of character development programs. "We believe that character development is the long-term process of helping individuals develop knowledge of, motivation to, and practices of living by a set of ethical standards." Products include Making the Case for Character Education, Character Education Encyclopedia.
  
  
• The Giraffe Project
  This project "challenges participants to "stick their necks out" for good character. The program offers examples of heroes who "stuck their necks out" for the care and concern of others. Students explore the difference between "hero" and "celebrity" and work toward developing a caring local community. Resource materials are available for students in K-12.