1. Character education promotes core ethical values as the basis of good

character.

2. “Character” must be comprehensively defined to include thinking,

feeling, and behavior.

3. Effective character education requires an intentional, proactive, and

comprehensive approach that promotes the core values in all phases of

school life.

4. The school must be a caring community.

5. To develop character, students need opportunities for moral action.

6. Effective character education includes a meaningful and challenging

academic curriculum that respects all learners and helps them succeed.

7. Character education should strive to develop students’ intrinsic

motivation.

8. The school staff must become a learning and moral community in which all

share responsibility for character education and attempt to adhere to the

same core values that guide the education of students.

9. Character education requires moral leadership from both staff and

students.

10. The school must recruit parents and community members as full partners

in the character-building effort.

11. Evaluation of character education should assess the character of the

school, the school staff’s functioning as character educators, and the

extent to which students manifest good character.

– Character Education Partnership