Code of Virginia

Goals

Principles

School Board Resolution

Diploma Civic Seal

School Spotlights:

High Schools

Middle Schools

Elementary Schools

Schools Receiving Character Education Funding Last Year

For more information contact:

Teresa Zutter, Director
571-423-4020
Teresa.Zutter@fcps.edu

Developing good character in children is primarily the responsibility of families, but it is also the shared responsibility of schools and other community organizations. Individual schools develop character education initiatives applicable to their student and community populations. Character education is comprehensive, including all aspects of school life:

• Positive modeling by school personnel
• Code of conduct and discipline policy
• Academic curriculum and instructional process
• School management
• Extracurricular activities
• Service learning opportunities

Resources:

There are many national and international organizations dedicated to the development of good character and ethical decision-making that offer numerous resources. Each learning community should search for materials and practices that best match the needs of their communities. This is a partial listing of resources available through the web:

• ASCD – Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• Center for the 4th and 5th R's
• Character Counts
• Character Education Partnership
• Center for 4th and 5th R's (Respect and Responsibility) SUNY Cortland School of Education
• CETAC – Character Education and Civic Engagement Technical Assistance Center
• Community of Caring
• Heart of America Foundation
• NVMS – Northern Virginia Mediation Services
• PBIS – Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
• RJAV – Restorative Justice Association of Virginia
• SMARTer Kids Foundation
• USDOE
• VDOE Character Education Website

Special thanks to Sprint Corporation for helping to fund pilot projects in two Fairfax County High Schools: Westfield Secondary (Restorative Justice) and West Potomac High School (Service Learning)! In addition, Sprint made it possible for every school in Fairfax County to receive at least one copy of the Eleven Principles Sourcebook: How to Achieve Quality Character Education in K-12 Schools created by the National Character Education Partnership. All Fairfax County high schools also received a copy of the 227 page report to the nation from the Center for the 4th and 5th R’s -- Smart & Good High Schools: Integrating Excellence and Ethics for Success in School, Work, and Beyond.