Stage One: Complete the application
(Application deadline: December 3, 2012)
Gather a representative group of stakeholders (administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, community members, and even students, if appropriate) to give input into the application and complete a self-assessment. Prepare your application using CEP resources provided online. Enter all contact information, narrative responses, supporting evidence, and self-assessment scores online by December 3.
Stage Two: Initial review of applications
(December – early January)
State coordinators in participating states review and score all applications received. Those determined to meet a standard of excellence are named State Schools of Character (SSOC) for a period of 3 years and forwarded to CEP for further consideration. CEP reviews applications from states without sponsors.
Stage Three: National review of SSOC applications & selection of National Finalists
(January – February)
CEP national screeners review and score applications forwarded from the state coordinators. All those determined to meet a standard of excellence are named National Finalists. Finalists are announced in early March and informed about the next stage in the process.
Stage Four: National evaluation of Finalists
(March – April)
Finalists are assigned National Evaluators and asked to provide additional information online. National Evaluators review applications and all available sources of validation. In many cases, National Evaluators will visit the school or district to validate the claims made in the application. CEP may choose not to visit schools or districts whose applications received an exceptionally high score in the national screening process, schools from National Districts of Character, and schools and districts that have received a previous site visit from CEP, a state coordinator, or another character education expert. If the applicant does not receive a site visit, the National Evaluators will consider other sources of information, including phone interviews with stakeholders. Once available sources of data have been considered, National Evaluators send a report to CEP to explain their findings and give feedback to the school.
Stage Five: Selection of National Schools of Character
(early May)
CEP senior staff review the reports of the National Evaluators and determine if those applicants recommended by the National Evaluators should be named NSOC. CEP also convenes a Review Panel for expert advice during the selection process. CEP invites state coordinators to inform those selected as NSOC and then posts the NSOC on the CEP website.
Stage Six: Feedback for all applicants
(January – June)
All applicants receive feedback in order to encourage continuous improvement. Those that did not go on to the national level screening will receive score sheets including strengths and areas for growth from their state coordinators or CEP. Those that went on to the national level screening but were not named National Finalists will receive score sheets with strengths and areas for growth from CEP. All those that were named National Finalists will receive their National Evaluation reports from CEP, regardless of whether or not they were named NSOC. State coordinators will also receive the reports for those not named NSOC so that they can help applicants improve and re-apply in the interim years of their SSOC designation.
Stage Seven: Recognition and Outreach
(June through following school year)
CEP recognizes the NSOC and shares their stories through press releases, the CEP website, and the annual NSOC book. CEP honors the NSOC at the National Forum on Character Education held in October/November. CEP assists the NSOC in planning their outreach efforts.
