CHARACTER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (CEP)
Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education™

There is no single script for effective character education, but there are some important basic principles. The following eleven principles serve as criteria that schools and other groups can use to plan a character education effort and to evaluate available character education programs, books, and curriculum resources.
By Tom Lickona, Eric Schaps, and Catherine Lewis

Principle #1:
Character education promotes core ethical values as the basis of good character

Principle #2:
Character is comprehensively defined to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.
                   
Principle #3:
Effective character education requires an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that promotes the core values in all phases of school life.
                   
Principle #4:
The school is a caring community.
                   
Principle #5:
To develop character, the school provides students opportunities for moral action.
                   
Principle #6:
Effective character education includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners and helps them succeed.
                   
Principle #7:
Character Education should strive to develop students' intrinsic motivation for developing good character.
                   
Principle #8:
The school staff is a learning and moral community in which all share responsibility for character education and attempt to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.
                   
Principle #9:
Staff and students demonstrate moral leadership.
                   
Principle #10:
The school recruits parents and community members as full partners in the character-building effort.
                   
Principle #11:
Evaluation of character education assesses the character of the school, the school staff's functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.


The Character Education Quality Standards outline key components of effective character education and let schools and districts evaluate their efforts in relation to these criteria. This document provides a means for educators, administrators, and community members to reflect on current practices, identify short- and long-term objectives, and better organize strategic plans. This instrument is based on CEP's Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education.™

The standards and the assessment document are useful tools for a school to utilize in assessing their character education initiative.  You can find the document and supporting information at the CEP website:  www.character.org

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