11 Principles

1) Promotes core ethical values and supportive performance values as the foundation of good character;

2) Defines "character" comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and behavior; (

3) Uses a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character development;

4) Creates a caring school community;

5) Provides students with opportunities for moral action;

6) Includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed;

7) Strives to foster students' self-motivation;

8) Engages the school staff as a learning and moral community that shares responsibility for character education and attempts to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students;

9) Fosters shared moral leadership and long-range support of the character education initiative;

10) Engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort; and

11) Assesses the character of the school, the school staff's functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.