THE JOSEPHSON INSTITUTE

Gilroy Unified School District

October 16, 2008

Justin Lu, Assistant Director

• Why CHARACTER COUNTS! (CC!) is important

• What is CHARACTER COUNTS!

• How does it work

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

“Character education programs work. Schools across the country that have adopted strong character education programs report better student performance, fewer discipline problems, and increased student involvement in the community.” – Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)

“I have supported CHARACTER COUNTS! throughout the years because I believe this program reaches out to all youth and adults…I encourage more people to become involved with the CHARACTER COUNTS! program, but most of all I hope individuals will take the time to reflect on and adopt the Six Pillars of Character.” – Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM)

RESEARCH

• Kaweah High School in Tulare County California saw its discipline referrals fall from 553 the first year CHARACTER COUNTS! was implemented to 67 three years later, an 88% decrease.

• North Ridge Elementary in Lubbock, TX reported 445 discipline referrals the year before implementing CHARACTER COUNTS!. That number fell to 220 during the first year of the program, a 48%decrease.

RESEARCH

• Atlantis Elementary in Cocoa, FL saw the percentage of students scoring 3 or above (on an ascending 1-5 scale) on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test jump from 45% to 78% in one year.

• More research can be found at: www.charactercounts.org/research

• The most widely implemented approach to character education – reaching over 7 million youth

• It is a framework, not a set curriculum or program, and integrates into all elements of your district culture.

• Nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian — based on a framework that promotes common language values called the Six Pillars of Character.

WHAT IS CHARACTER COUNTS!

THE SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER

TRUSTWORTHINESSTRUSTWORTHINESS – integrity, honesty, promise-keeping, loyalty.

RESPECT – courtesy, autonomy, diversity, Golden Rule

RESPONSIBILITY – duty, accountability, pursuit of excellence

FAIRNESS – openness, consistency, impartiality

CARING – kindness, compassion, empathy

CITIZENSHIP – lawfulness, common good, environment

THE CC! FRAMEWORK

CC! recognizes that educators are overloaded with teaching standards and testing. The CC! framework works with your curriculum and allows educators to weave character education into the school culture through existing programs including:

Standards-based Curriculum Discipline Parent Involvement Student Leadership Athletics

HOW TO GET STARTED

• Professional Development is the most important part of getting started with CHARACTER COUNTS!

• We offer a three-day Character Development Seminar (CDS) that will give participants a comprehensive background in CC! and cover strategies to effectively integrate CC! on a comprehensive level.

• It is a train-the-trainer seminar. We recommend training at least 5 to 10 percent of your total staff in CHARACTER COUNTS! to achieve effective implementation.

HOW TO GET STARTED

COALITION MEMBERSHIP: is not required but can help ensure the longevity and success of a program. Members receive:

Up-to-date information on character education best practices Information on grants Unlimited consultation Referrals to other members Discounted fees on training/materials

• Support Materials: activity and lesson books, awareness items, videos, posters, banners, and resources for parents, coaches, and the workplace

• Free Resources:Our website has numerous free resources including lesson plans and we also collect samples from Coalition members including discipline referral forms, letters to parents, and more.

• Consultation: We are here to support you in your efforts and are available for unlimited consultation to assist you in program implementation.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS

THANK YOU!

For more information please contact us at

(800) 711-2670 or visit the website at www.CharacterCounts.org