Questions asked on the 2013 application (PDF)
(Includes tips for answering questions)
Important Technical Information for Applicants
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish until you select the “submit” button at the end of the application. Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be edited. A school (or district) may submit only one application.
Navigation
Please use the “Previous” and “Save and Continue” buttons as you move through the application – not your browser. Errors can occur if you move outside of the application in order to navigate through it.
Required Information
As you go through the application, note that required fields are indicated by an asterisk. You will not be able to save and continue to the next page unless you enter something in all required fields. If you do not know the information requested at the time you are filling in the application, enter some dummy text such as “find out” and come back to it later.
Applicant Tips
As you move through the application, note that “Applicant Tips” are available as a check for you – to be sure you have responded to all the key indicators in the 11 Principles. They are simply there as a courtesy to applicants and they may be found in the Application Questions PDF. You are not required to look at the Applicant Tips or to use them at all, but you may find them useful. If you used the 11 Principles document as your guide when pulling together your application, these tips should not be necessary since they are taken directly from the 11 Principles.
Narrative Responses
Applicants are encouraged to compose and save their narrative responses using a word processing program and then “cut and paste” from their saved documents directly into the online application. This strategy can save hours of distress should an unlikely technical error occur.
Character Limits
Character limits are firm and include spaces. The application will warn you if you exceed the character limit. Please note that reviewers will not see any text you enter that exceeds the character limit.
Supporting Evidence
Applicants are encouraged to create separate “portfolio” documents for each of the 11 Principles before completing the application online so that they can easily upload them. Only one file of portfolio evidence may be uploaded per principle. All files should be limited to one page except those for Principle 3 which may be 2 pages and Principle 11 wich may be up to 4 pages. Note that you do not need to spend a great deal of time creating portfolio pages – existing documents are fine, as are a variety of file types. Accepted file types: Adobe PDF (.pdf), Microsoft Excel (xls, .xlsx), Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), Microsoft Publisher (.pub), Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx).
Proof Is In The Data
All applicants are encouraged to be familiar with the kinds of supporting evidence that National Finalists are asked to provide (see below). Any of this evidence that you can include in your initial application will strengthen it – and you will have less to gather should you be named a Finalist.
Additional Requirements for Finalists
If your school or district is named a National Finalist:
- You will be notified by your state coordinator or CEP by March 5. Finalists will also be posted on CEP’s website.
- Your school’s name and the profile information you entered in your application in Parts 1 and 2 will appear on CEP’s website.
- You will be informed by CEP about the next steps in the process and assigned a National Evaluator, with whom you will correspond directly.
- You will be asked to return to your online application and enter:
Data on academics, behavior, and school climate
A sample lesson plan
Photos and captions
Testimonials from stakeholders
QUESTIONS / SUPPORT
CEP is here to help. We offer the following support options.
For content-related or general questions:
- E-mail your state coordinator or NSOC Director Lara Maupin at lmaupin@character.org.
- Attend a free webinar — check the CEP homepage for upcoming dates and times as well as recorded webinars that you may view at any time (see Resources for Applicants).
- Post your question on Facebook any time.
- Call the CEP office (202-296-7743) during regular business hours (EST).
If you are experiencing technical difficulties:
- Call the CEP office (202-296-7743) during regular business hours (EST).
- Post your question or problem on Facebook.
- Send an e-mail to iwyatt@character.org.
