Character Development Center (California)
Part of the University of San Diego, the CDC serves a variety of stakeholders who participate in the character development of youth and it helps to promote the development of life skills necessary for a productive personal and social life. The Center offers an online certificate program for educators to become certified character educators, as well as publications, an annual conference, and resource files of programs, projects, units and lesson plans. The Center also runs an essay contest to encourage insightful discussions and reflections by students.
The Foundation for Character Development (Colorado)
The Foundation supports educators by engaging community and business leaders to be more intentional in modeling ethical behavior and positive character traits. It provides leadership in sustaining a character education training academy, mobilizes comprehensive community-wide support for effective practices, facilitates integration of these practices within all sectors of the community, and promotes evaluation and research. The website provides details on the SSOC process as it relates to Colorado schools as well as information on the framework that the Foundation advocates for.
The Golden Rule Foundation (Florida)
The Golden Rule Foundation believes fostering character development in children is serious business and is dedicated to helping schoolchildren build character through community service. They raise money to support class projects that meet a pressing community need, provide real-world applications for students’ class work, and help them grow from the experience. The website provides details on grant applications and community service ideas, as well as offering a calendar of events, news, a newsletter, and an opportunity for kids to nominate their peers for recognition.
Pioneer RESA (Georgia)
Pioneer RESA serves 14 school systems in Georgia by providing facilitative, consultative, technical and staff development services that promote continuous school improvement planning, building system capacity to sustain change, and connecting school improvement plans to systemic improvement efforts. The website provides more details on the functions of each department, a database of online teacher resources organization by subject area, and information on courses being offered.
University of Illinois Extension (Illinois)
University of Illinois Extension offers training and resources about character development across the state to enable people to improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work. Parents, teachers, business owners, and civic leaders who work with and on behalf of young people and communities can become involved and promote ethical decisions in all facets of life. The website provides training resources for parents, schools and businesses, along with a variety of other resources for schools, youth groups, parents, and communities. Several activities geared directly towards kids are also available for download.
Department of Education (Indiana) accepts applications from public and private schools and districts throughout the state of Indiana for the State Schools of Character (SSOC) program. Applicants selected as IN SSOC will hold their designation for 3 years and their applications will be forwarded to the national level for consideration as National Schools of Character (NSOC).
Character Counts in Iowa (Iowa)
Character Counts in Iowa focuses on recognizing, enhancing, and sustaining the positive qualities of Iowans in order to promote civility through character development. The organization is housed at Drake University and maintains statewide partnerships that allow it to support character development in families, communities (including athletics programs), workplaces and schools. The website provides a free parents guide, resource library, blog, merchandise, calendar of events, and information on workshops, training, speakers, and various awards programs.
Kansas State Department of Education (Kansas) accepts applications from public and private schools and districts throughout the state of Kansas for the State Schools of Character (SSOC) program. Applicants selected as KS SSOC will hold their designation for 3 years and their applications will be forwarded to the national level for consideration as National Schools of Character (NSOC).
Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (Kentucky)
The Council is committed to promoting good character qualities that can help bring about a stronger, safer and more unified community. It does this by working within organizations to facilitate positive cultural change. One section of the website is devoted to providing insight into their philosophy of using encouragement and positive reinforcement to help strengthen and grow individuals, families, and communities. The website also provides tools geared towards businesses, educators, faith organizations, and government agencies.
Louisiana 4-H (Louisiana)
Part of Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Center, Louisiana 4-H delivers dynamic and interactive education programs, organizes communities to deal effectively with local youth issues, and provides opportunities for youth to apply what they learn by providing service in their communities. Teens act as both members and volunteers, helping to develop their own leadership skills. The website provides activities and games for kids; program details for teens; resources that are aimed at parents, teachers and volunteers; a section dedicated to character development; and science-related activity ideas.
Maryland Center for Character Education (Maryland)
MCCE at Stevenson University focuses on identifying, celebrating and sharing character development best practices, found throughout the schools in Maryland. It helps to raise awareness, provide a clearinghouse of information for character development initiatives, and foster research and publication of initiatives to assess the educational impact of character education endeavors. The website provides resources for parents, schools, businesses, and community organizations, as well as a newsletter and information on helpful organizations and potential speakers.
Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character (Massachusetts)
Boston University’s CAEC serves as a resource for administrators, teachers and parents as they seek to fulfill their responsibilities as moral educators; fosters research initiatives and publications on moral and character education; educates teachers by providing an intellectual framework; and stimulates the national dialogue on moral education issues. The Center provides curriculum resources, publications, professional development, and consulting services, as well as resources for parents and students.
Hudson Public School District (Massachusetts)
HPS is a Massachusetts district committed to promoting students’ intellectual, ethical and social development through challenging curricula and caring school environments. After becoming a National District of Character in 2001, they become a state sponsor in 2008. They continue to be recognized as a leader in instructional innovation and have developed a K-12 service-learning program. Viewed as a way to strengthen community ties, the website provides information on schools, expectations, programs, staff articles, corporate partnerships, grants, and links to community organizations. Details on HPS’s anti-bullying plan are available, along with a service-learning portal and news highlighting the latest programs and successes.
The Michigan Department of Education (Michigan) accepts applications from public and private schools and districts throughout the state of Michigan for the State Schools of Character (SSOC) program. Applicants selected as Michigan SSOC will hold their designation for 3 years and their applications will be forwarded to the national level for consideration as National Schools of Character (NSOC).
Synergy & Leadership Exchange (Minnesota)
Synergy & Leadership Exchange fosters collaboration, provides resources and celebrates achievement in schools, businesses and communities throughout Minnesota. Members actively advocate and create school cultures that value academic achievement while supporting development of the whole person. The organization publishes a catalog of academic enrichment programs and activities that are endorsed for their effectiveness. It also recognizes outstanding educators, assembles a gathering of champions, provides professional development opportunities, and maintains an event calendar on the website.
Jones County Junior College (Mississippi) accepts applications from public and private schools and districts throughout the state of Mississippi for the State Schools of Character (SSOC) program. Applicants selected as MS SSOC will hold their designation for 3 years and their applications will be forwarded to the national level for consideration as National Schools of Character (NSOC).
CHARACTERplus (Missouri)
CHARACTERplus offers membership in a collective that believes in a powerful process that transforms school climate through a comprehensive school improvement process, resulting in positive changes in pro-social behavior and increases in student achievement. Members have access to latest research, best practices, training modules, climate survey tools and regular networking. The organization provides a speaker series, monthly meetings, an annual conference, scholarship opportunities, community collaborations, the Leadership Academy in Character Education, and monthly public service announcements highlighting character traits. The website provides lesson plans, a monthly e-newsletter, research results, award details and information on becoming certified in character education.
Ethics Institute at Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
The Institute serves the Dartmouth community and the larger academic community through research and dialogue on emerging ethical issues. Over 150 faculty and administrators take part by gathering together seminar groups, forums, and task force meetings to discuss and research cutting-edge ethical issues, prepare publications, organize symposia and conferences, and develop courses. Programs for students include an ethics minor and graduate program, as well as annual Ethics Bowl competitions. Visiting scholars can conduct research and the general public can attend public lectures and dinner discussions. The website provides details on research and funding opportunities, along with faculty publications.
New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development (New Jersey)
NJASECD accepts applications from public and private schools and districts throughout the state of New Jersey for the State Schools of Character (SSOC) program. Applicants selected as NJ SSOC will hold their designation for 3 years and their applications will be forwarded to the national level for consideration as National Schools of Character (NSOC).
The Academy for Character Education at The Sage Colleges (New York)
The Academy helps to foster character traits, primarily through school curriculum materials, but also by reaching out to the larger community. The Academy provides training institutes, in-service days, leadership training for students, and other specialized programs. It offers conferences and workshops in addition to its “Character Education Champions” initiative, which recognizes exemplary leaders in character education. Based in eastern New York, The Academy has begun to reach out to the surrounding region as well.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (North Carolina) accepts applications from public and private schools and districts throughout the state of North Carolina for the State Schools of Character (SSOC) program. Applicants selected as NC SSOC will hold their designation for 3 years and their applications will be forwarded to the national level for consideration as National Schools of Character (NSOC).
Ohio Partners in Character Education (Ohio)
OPCE promotes and facilitates the development and implementation of character education program in Ohio schools and communities through professional development workshops, advocacy, a statewide character network, partnerships and various programs. Through a variety of grants through state and federal departments of education, OPCE has implemented programs in communities around the state to develop character strengths in all students. The website provides information on an annual conference and a compiled list of resources, both within Ohio and nation-wide.
Character Council of Central Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
The Character Council educates, equips and empowers others to create a culture of good character in central Oklahoma, enabling the area to become a model community of good character. It includes committees responsive to the needs of seven sectors within the community: family, faith organizations, education, business, government, law enforcement, and communications. Families can find resources for strengthening family harmony. Schools can find tools to aid in converting the school environment into a culture of good character. Businesses can find solutions for developing employees to help them reach their full potential.
Center for Leadership and Ethics (Pennsylvania)
To help foster the growth of character, the Center provides research and assessment; identification of values and character attributes; analysis of “courses of action” available to effect change or sustain and nurture ethical practices; and design of programs based on mission, standards and resources. The Center is founded on the principle that character development is a process and that character is manifest in action. It provides instruction and counsel, assisting with program design, assessment, and education of faculty and parents through continuous relationships. To that end, the website includes information on seminars, presentations, and relevant articles.
South Dakota 4-H (South Dakota)
South Dakota 4-H, part of the state university’s Cooperative Extension Service, offers members a chance to get involved in the community as volunteers and youth leaders by organizing and carrying out volunteer and service-learning projects. Each club maintains its own focus, based on the interests of its own members. Affiliated with Character Counts, the South Dakota 4-H website provides resources that assist in teaching youth about being a person of character. It includes activities, events and lessons, all available on the website, along with information on awards, scholarships, international youth exchange, an annual conference, training opportunities and a newsletter.
Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (Texas)
TEPSA is committed to providing quality education for all Texas elementary and middle school students. The organization provides leadership training, networking opportunities, and support for school leaders; advocates to improve the quality of childhood, public education and principals; and aims to increase respect and prestige of principals. The website lists job and volunteer opportunities, upcoming conferences and trainings, news and updates, and provides details on their student council program. You can also find publications and tools covering a variety of important topics, such as culture and communication, student learning, programs and leadership.
Community of Caring (Utah)
Community of Caring is built around core values that empower young people to be responsible, caring members of the community. This school-wide K-12 program weaves core values into every aspect of school life and the existing curriculum. The program fosters character and citizenship development; improves attendance and academic performance; improves school climate and creates a caring school community; creates safer school environments by preventing bullying and other forms of violence; and reduces tobacco, drug and alcohol use. The website offers information on professional development, teacher resources, the annual conference and newsletters.
Regent University School of Education (Virginia)
Regent’s School of Education is committed to providing learning opportunities which promote the skills, dispositions and understandings that enable its graduates to seek knowledge and wisdom to serve and edify others. It offers a values-based program of academic rigor and practical application. Regent has a national presence and a growing influence in education—character development in the classroom is just one example. Regent offers professional development that helps with licensure and renewals as well as, specific to character education, a master’s in leadership in character education and a doctorate of education in character education.
Leadership Innovations Team (Washington)
LIT is committed to understanding each situation and developing custom solutions that helps schools thrive by empowering staff, focusing administrators, and developing students. They provide tools and support to help leaders and organizations identify specific research-based areas to target. LIT believes that leadership is the difference in creating and sustaining successful organizations. The website provides more details on services available for mentors and coaches, classroom teachers, leaders, and one-on-one coaching. It also includes several publications, articles, a podcast library, presentation materials, and several free tools for leaders.
College of Education and Human Services at Marshall University (West Virginia)
West Virginia’s SSOC sponsor dedicates a page specific to applicants within the state of West Virginia. This website gives an overview of the program, information on how to apply, contact information, and details on the current state winners.
Wisconsin Character Education Partnership (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin Character Education Partnership promotes an intentional, proactive effort to instill in students core universal values such as integrity, fairness, responsibility and respect. The organization encourages a self-sustaining culture; promotes training in character education and leadership; builds a platform to encourage collaboration; and works with leaders to support the development of caring and responsible citizens. A leadership academy helps school leaders deepen their understanding of character education and integrate it into every aspect of the student experience. The website provides details on an annual conference and a Call to Character, videos and news.