Application Review Timeline
From December to January, state sponsors and CEP staff review the applications. In January, state sponsors send status letters to all state applicants and forward the applications of their SSOC winners to CEP. In late February / early March, CEP selects the National Finalists. Finalists will be asked to submit additional supporting evidence online. In early March, CEP notifies state nominees and applicants from non-participating states of their status. In March and April, CEP reviews applications and gathers other data through a variety of strategies, such as telephone interviews, the applicant’s website, or site visits. In May, CEP announces the National Schools of Character.
Feedback and Reflection
All SSOC/NSOC applicants will receive feedback on their applications either from their state sponsors or CEP. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on this feedback, ask their state coordinators or CEP staff if they have questions, and begin to plan next steps in their stakeholder or other leadership groups. State coordinators will provide resources and technical assistance to those schools and districts named SSOC that are not named NSOC in order to help them achieve NSOC status in the future.
Promising Practices
CEP gives annual Promising Practices in character education for unique, specific, and effective character education practices and strategies that exemplify one or more of the 11 Principles. Selected schools and districts receive a certificate of recognition at the Promising Practices ceremony at the CEP Forum. In addition, descriptions of the winning practices appear in the annual NSOC publication as well as on CEP’s website where educators may search the practices for ideas.
CEP gives all SSOC/NSOC applicants an extended deadline to apply for a PP for a specific activity or strategy described in their application. In addition, their PP applications receive special consideration. The 2013 Promising Practices application period is December 17 – March 17. (SSOC/NSOC applicants have until April 15 to apply!)
Staff Development
As schools and districts engaged in school improvement through character education, CEP encourages all SSOC/NSOC applicants to attend the CEP’s National Forum in October. Educators who attend the Forum benefit from outstanding breakout sessions, inspiring expert speakers, and networking opportunities. They learn concrete, effective character education strategies and return to their schools motivated and prepared to implement them.
CEP also encourages educators to visit this website frequently for resources, professional development opportunities, information on upcoming webinars, and opportunities to participate in a growing online community of character educators.
Leadership and Outreach
The NSOC path to excellence does not stop with being named an NSOC. CEP encourages educators from National Schools of Character to share their expertise with others through outreach sessions, in-services, mentoring relationships, and social networking. Learn more about NSOC Expectations and Outreach.
