I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1559
To increase the level of funding for the Partnerships in Character Education 
Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 12, 2005
Mr. FORD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To increase the level of funding for the Partnerships in 
Character Education Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Character Education 
Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. INCREASED FUNDING FOR PARTNERSHIPS IN 
CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
Section 5401 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘There are’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) IN GEN-
ERAL.—There are’’; 
(2) 
in 
paragraph 
(5), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$650,000,000 for fiscal year 2006’’ and inserting 
‘‘$675,000,000 for fiscal year 2006’’; 
(3) 
in 
paragraph 
(6), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$675,000,000 for fiscal year 2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘$700,000,000 for fiscal year 2007’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) PARTNERSHIPS IN CHARACTER EDUCATION.—
From the amount appropriated to carry out this part for 
each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008, the Secretary 
shall reserve $50,000,000 to carry out subpart 3.’’. 
SEC. 3. MODEL STATE CHARACTER EDUCATION CUR-
RICULUM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall—
(1) conduct a study of best practices in the field 
of character education; and 
(2) develop a model State character education 
curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12. 
(b) MODEL STATE CHARACTER EDUCATION CUR-
RICULUM.—
(1) PRINCIPLES OF CURRICULUM.—The model 
State character education curriculum developed 
under this section shall embody the principles that 
character education—
(A) is premised on the notion that widely 
shared core ethical values, including honesty, 
fairness, justice, caring, responsibility, and re-
spect for self and others, form the basis of good 
character; 
(B) by promoting the validity of these val-
ues and the responsibility to uphold them, af-
firms human dignity, promotes the development 
and welfare of the individual, serves the com-
mon good, and promotes the exercise of citizen-
ship in a democratic society; and 
(C) should be an integral part of the cur-
riculum at all grade levels, should be part of a 
comprehensive approach that integrates char-
acter development into every aspect of school 
life, and should reach out to families and in-
clude them in character-building efforts. 
(2) FOCUS ON ASPECTS OF CHARACTER.—The 
model State character education curriculum devel-
oped under this section shall focus on aspects of
character including honesty, fairness, justice, caring, 
responsibility, and respect for self and others. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to the Congress a report 
containing—
(1) the results of the study conducted under 
this section; and 
(2) the model State character education cur-
riculum developed under this section.
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