One of the great education reformers, Horace Mann, in the 1840s,

helped to improve instruction in classrooms nationwide,

advocating that character development was as important as

academics in American schools. The United States Congress,

recognizing the importance of this concept, authorized the

Partnerships in Character Education Program in 1994. The No Child

Left Behind Act of 2001 renews and re-emphasizes this

tradition—and substantially expands support for it. Indeed, one

of the six goals of the Department of Education is to “promote

strong character and citizenship among our nation’s youth”

(Strategic Plan 2002-2007). To reach this goal, the Department of

Education joins with state education agencies and school districts

across our country to provide vital leadership and support to

implement character education. 

What is character education?

Throughout history, character education has been the shared

responsibility of parents, teachers and members of the

community, who come together to support positive character

development.

Character education teaches the habits of thought and deed that

help people live and work together as families, friends,

neighbors, communities and nations.

Character education is a learning process that enables students

and adults in a school community to understand, care about

and act on core ethical values such as respect, justice, civic

virtue and citizenship, and responsibility for self and others.

Upon such core values, we form the attitudes and actions that

are the hallmark of safe, healthy and informed communities

that serve as the foundation of our society. 

What is the school’s role in character education?

Students spend much of their young lives in classrooms. This

time in school is an opportunity to explain and reinforce the

core values upon which character is formed.

In school, character education must be approached

comprehensively to include the emotional, intellectual and moral

qualities of a person or group. It must offer multiple

opportunities for students to learn about, discuss and enact

positive social behaviors. Student leadership and involvement are

essential for character education to become a part of a student’s

beliefs and actions.

To successfully implement character education, schools are

encouraged to:

✪ Take a leadership role to bring the staff, parents and students

together to identify and define the elements of character they

want to emphasize;

✪ Provide training for staff on how to integrate character

education into the life and culture of the school;

✪ Form a vital partnership with parents and the community so

that students hear a consistent message about character traits

essential for success in school and life; and

✪ Provide opportunities for school leaders, teachers, parents and

community partners to model exemplary character traits and

social behaviors.

State education agencies, through a collaborative community

process, have chosen to incorporate character education into

their school improvement plans and state standards. Some states

have chosen to implement character education through official

state policies such as the Michigan State Board of Education

Policy on Quality Character Education. Many schools have chosen

to incorporate character education into their plans for Safe and

Drug-Free Schools and Communities. 

From state to state, the following are common threads in

character education agendas:

✪ Involvement of the whole community in designing and

implementing character education for its schools; and

✪ Commitment to making character education an integral

part of the education process.

Federal resources and support for character education 

The United States Congress and the Department of Education

have expanded support for character education for more than a

decade, enabling schools across our nation to implement

character education in a variety of ways. The Department of

Education provides grants to state and local education agencies

to support the development of character education. Since 1995,

through the Partnerships in Character Education Program

(www.ed.gov/programs/charactered/index.html), the Department

has awarded 97 grants to assist in designing, implementing and

U. S. Department of Education

Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Washington, DC 20202-6450

1-800-872-5327 

www.ed.gov

Within the character of the

citizen lies the welfare of

the nation. —Cicero

... nothing is of more

importance for the

public weal, than to form

and train up youth in

wisdom and virtue.

—Benjamin Franklin

Character education teaches the habits of thought and deed 

that help people live and work together as families, friends,

neighbors, communities and nations. 

Education at its best should

expand the mind and build

character.

—Secretary Margaret Spellings

SM

sustaining high-quality opportunities for students to learn and

understand the importance of strong character in their lives.

Resources for parents and teachers in character education

Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/index.html

Character Education and Civic Engagement Technical 

Assistance Center 

www.cetac.org

What Works Clearinghouse—Character Education

www.whatworks.ed.gov

Helping Your Child Become a Responsible Citizen

View the booklet online at: www.ed.gov/parents/academic/

help/citizen/index.html

Order by calling (877) 4ED-PUBS.

Character Education-Our Shared Responsibility

View the brochure online at:

www.ed.gov/admins/lead/character/brochure.html

Order by calling (877) 4ED-PUBS.