February 29, 2012 – Washington, D.C. – The Character Education Partnership (CEP) has named 22 public schools, three private schools, one charter school, and two school districts as National Finalists in the 2012 National Schools of Character (NSOC) program.
“These schools are using character education to shape cultures that encourage high student achievement, mutual respect, and integrity among students, staff, and faculty,” said CEP President Mark Hyatt. “The results show that character education really works to transform schools into learning communities for all stakeholders.”
Schools that apply for NSOC recognition benefit from self-assessment as well as the expert feedback they receive at no cost. Once they reach a standard of excellence, a process that may take several years, they are recognized as Schools of Character and asked to help other schools transform their school cultures. Describing the program as a path to school improvement through high-quality character education, CEP has offered the NSOC program to K-12 schools and districts in the U.S. since 1998.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to share the stories of 28 more school communities doing the right thing for kids,” said Lara Maupin, NSOC Director. “These are schools where parents get choked up telling visitors what the school means to them.”
The 28 National Finalists were selected from an applicant pool of 126 schools and districts across the United States based on the quality of their written applications. In March and April they will undergo an intensive screening process that will include site visits and analysis of the impact of their character-related efforts on academics, student behavior, and school culture.
The Finalists include 17 elementary schools, four middle schools, two alternative high schools, three mixed-grade schools, one K-12 public school district, and one national charter school district. They represent 15 states and Puerto Rico, with Missouri having the highest number at six. Over half of the Finalists have student populations where one-quarter or more qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The 2012 National Schools of Character will be announced in early May. CEP will honor these schools and districts at the 19th National Forum on Character Education, to be held November 1-3, 2012 in Washington, DC. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the NSOC program and the 2012 National Finalists.
