BEHAVIORS - Elementary

October is Character Education Month!

VIDEO - Watch Character Education in Action at California Elementary Schools!

State and Local Perspectives

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 55 - Relative to character education in public schools.
Filed with Secretary of State October 2, 2007.

Character Education Month Resolution
State Board of Education Resolution recognizing October 2007 as Character Education Month.

Why Character Education - State Superintendent Jack O'Connell's Perspective

Elk Grove Unified Board of Education Character Education Month Resolution

Education Code Section 233.5(s)
EC Section 233.5 is the heart of character and citizenship education authority. It reads as follows:

“Each teacher shall endeavor to impress upon the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government. (b) Each teacher is also encouraged to create and foster an environment that encourages pupils to realize their full potential and that is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities, in order to prevent acts of hate violence, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 233.”

Resources

Foundations for Teaching Character-Based Citizenship^®

Research Base for Character-Based Citizenship^®

Get Involved

Character-Based Citizenship^® Winter Institute
December 4-5, 2007, Sacramento

Learn how a whole school approach to character education can effect change at your school site. Attend training modules in curriculum & instruction, school climate & culture, plan & structure, outreach & connections, assessment & accountability and leadership development.

2008 California Schools of Character Awards Program
Applications Due December 3, 2007

Sponsored by CYC, in collaboration with the California Partnership for Character Education, the annual awards program recognizes schools or districts that demonstrate an outstanding character education initiative that yields positive results in student behavior, school climate, and academic performance. One applicant is chosen each year as California’s nominee to the national level competition, conducted by the Character Education Partnership.

10 Ways Every Adult Can Demonstrate Character

1. Support high expectations and standards for positive behavior for all students.

2. Ensure community efforts are fair and equitable, providing opportunities for all youth to participate.

3. Work collaboratively with your colleagues; demonstrate mutual respect, take initiative and accept responsibility.

4. Model character for youth who are watching your actions. Work to be a positive influence.

5. Encourage your local school to blend character and good citizenship into the academic program as a natural and essential common focus agenda for school staff, parent and community partnerships.

6. Look for ways to provide opportunities for youth to practice leadership and assume responsibility, providing service to others.

7. Hold yourself accountable for active, everyday citizenship in your workplace, home, and neighborhood.

8. Identify ways to reengage our young people, particularly those at high risk, in a positive manner.

9. Remember, it’s often the “small things” (ie. manners, etc.) that work best to reinforce new ways of working, sustain morale and achieve results.

10. Work to connect the generations, identifying and adopting positive characteristics and breaking down the barriers to communication and interaction.

Free to Learn
A Character-Based Approach for Teaching Good Citizenship

Free to Learn helps California’s high priority elementary schools make improvements in their student citizenship program which supports their efforts to meet requirements for academic achievement. Using a research-based approach that is sensitive to current demands on instructional time, the project anchors the teaching of character-related behaviors for student growth into the academic program for reading/language arts. In addition, Free to Learn provides the necessary skill-based training and assistance to students and staff in six areas critical to school success.

California Partnership for Character Education

About Free to Learn Materials

Order Free to Learn Materials

Free to Learn Data Results

About Free to Learn Trainings

Free to Learn Recognition Reception Highlights

Copyright ©2003. Center for Youth Citizenship. All rights reserved.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 269003, Sacramento, CA 95826-9003
Physical Address: 10170 Missile Way, Mather, CA 95655
(916) 228-2322 . Fax (916) 228-2493 . cyc@scoe.net