Office of Educational Services & Support

This will be a three-year project that will begin with advisory committees in the districts to design the most appropriate implementation strategy and timeline. Special attention will be given to linking the character education effort to other programs and resources that support similar goals.

Local Education Agencies (LEA) will be responsible for the development of the character education implementation effort in their community. The LEA will develop their efforts from information that has a well-researched record of effectiveness. Local school district responsibilities include:

1. Utilization of a steering committee, which includes teachers, parents, students and community representatives to assist in the program development process.
2. Designing a model to fit their community needs
3. Provision of release time as required for key project staff to participate character education activities and organizational meetings.
4. Provision of staff development activities necessary for implementing their comprehensive character education plan.
5. Linking the character education effort to other local resources
6. Designing and implementing parent and community involvement strategies.

The State Education Agency shall be responsible for maintaining a contact person who will assist the LEAs in their efforts to establish the character education efforts in their school communities; design and maintain a web site; serve as a resource on character education; and coordinate some professional development opportunities in the character education field.