The Alaska Department of Education will work with the University of Alaska, the Association of Alaska School Boards, the Alaska Parent Teachers Association, and two school districts to develop character education in Alaska. Building on the Quality Schools Initiative, Alaska's plan for school reform, the Alaska Character Education Program will feature content related to Alaska's citizenship and healthy life skills standards, quality professional development, community networks, and will assist in school excellence standards.
FY98: $320,000.
Contact: Helen Mehrkens, (907) 465-8730.
The Colorado Department of Education represents a partnership with the Denver Public Schools and the Friends of Character Education. This project combines planning in Year One with implementation activities in Years Two through Four. The demonstration schools will model a comprehensive, community-based process for implementing character education through consensus. The character education program will include a communications strategy, a strong parent education component and community/school partnership that promotes character by enabling students to experience respect and nurturing in a caring community. The Colorado Department of Education will work to build educational programs by launching Character education clearinghouse, holding regional workshops for interested stakeholders throughout the state, promoting quality and accountability through evaluation and diverse perspectives.
FY98: $251,219.
Contact: David Smith, (303) 866-6683.
The Hawaii Department of Education proposes to develop character education curriculum infusion models for statewide adoption/adaptation by schools. The models will be developed with guidance and assistance from the Advisory Council for Character Education. This project will span three years. The major activities of this project include: Implementation of the curriculum with formative evaluation, development of websites and the clearinghouse; development of Framework and Resource Handbook, and field test of curriculum models.
FY98: $334,409.
Contact: Sharon Kaohi, (808) 394-1331.
The Indiana Department of Education will join in partnership with Martin University, three elementary schools, two alternative schools, and three community academies. The Department will assist schools as they integrate their character education and academic programs and work to achieve challenging academic standards. They are designed to meet the following objectives: seek input from community members, involve parents, provide teacher training, integrate education into schools' academic programs, school climate, disseminate character education information and use formative and summative evaluation to improve programs.
FY98: $341,436.
Contact: Phyllis Land Usher, (317) 232-9158.
The Iowa Department of Education will work with a consortium of 24 school districts and communities to design and develop a model to fit the state. Iowa's project sets three ambitious goals; 1) By the year 2001, develop an approach to school improvement, consistent with the goals of Goals 2000, which integrates the character Education Learning Community Model as an integral part of systemic school improvement, and which connects character education with other funding streams in the delivery of school improvement processes; 2) By the year 2001, 50 percent of the 435 school districts and their communities will have adopted and implemented the model; and 3) The pilot project involving 24 school districts and their communities will have amassed five years of research, development, implementation and institutionalization of the model into systemic school improvement efforts.
FY98: $375,000.
Contact: Troyce Fisher, (515) 357-6125
The Minnesota Department of Education will have partnership projects that include universities and school districts selected for diversity and interest in continuous education. The partnership will create a process for involving diverse communities and performance based learning and assessment for the development of character. The goals of the project are to integrate development for preparatory standards. The mission is to increase the capacity of the Minnesota communities to measurably improve the well being of children and families. The partnership will bring together the strengths of the partners to foster education with the focus on the state.
FY98: $250,000.
Contact: Constance J. Anderson, (612) 296-0351.
The New York Department of Education will work with four local Educational Agencies including, Manhattan CSD #4, Buffalo Public Schools, Dunkirk Public Schools and Mamaroneck Public Schools. This comprehensive project will refine an existing character education program to build character and academic skills, train teachers in four diverse districts, involve parents from the development stage, promote partnership between home and school.
FY98: $197,860.
Contact: Mary Daley, (518) 474-8773.
The Ohio Department of Education in partnership with Community Partners and Local Partners will guide the planning and implementation of Supportive School Community Policies and Practices, Planned Professional Development and Integrated Learning Strategies. The goal is to have a respectful and productive learning environment to ensure that all Ohio students reach high levels of academic success as individuals, workers and citizens.
FY98: $250,000.
Contact: Linda Nusbaum, (614) 466-2761.
The Oregon Department of Education with six Oregon districts will examine which methods are effective in enhancing positive student traits and behavior. The project will provide products that include twelve research based education programs and curriculum materials linked to high academic content. Of the twelve programs, there will be at least three elementary, three middle and three high schools involved in this project. The program will focus on eliminating those barriers to student academic achievements that are tied to character issues, such as alcohol and drug abuse, lack of motivation or discipline, or lack of family support. The products will be disseminated in Oregon and elsewhere to local school districts and schools of education.
FY98: $185,551.
Contact: Joanne L. Flint, (503) 378-8004 ext.272.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will forge a partnership with 144 school districts, the Wisconsin Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA), and 12 regional Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs). This partnership will help the schools to adopt a core set of values, create environments that are safe, involve parents in community activities, implement strategies to build positive relationships between youth and adults, address societal issues, engage students' minds and keep them connected, and set high expectations for the behavior of youth and adults in the school setting as outlined in the Department of Public Instruction publication, A Citizenship Tool Kit.
FY 98: $200,000.
Contact: Mary Kleusch, (608) 266-7051.
