22.1-208.01 - Character education required. - Virginia Statutes

§ 22.1-208.01. Character education required.

A. Each school board shall establish, within its existing programs, acharacter education program in its schools. The purpose of the charactereducation program shall be to instill in students civic virtues and personalcharacter traits so as to improve the learning environment, promote studentachievement, reduce disciplinary problems, and develop civic-minded studentsof high character. The components of each program shall be developed incooperation with the students, their parents, and the community at large. Thebasic character traits taught may include (i) trustworthiness, includinghonesty, integrity, reliability, and loyalty; (ii) respect, including theprecepts of the Golden Rule, tolerance, and courtesy; (iii) responsibility,including hard work, economic self-reliance, accountability, diligence,perseverance, and self-control; (iv) fairness, including justice,consequences of bad behavior, principles of nondiscrimination, and freedomfrom prejudice; (v) caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion,consideration, generosity, and charity; and (vi) citizenship, includingpatriotism, the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the American flag, concernfor the common good, respect for authority and the law, andcommunity-mindedness.

Classroom instruction may be used to supplement a character educationprogram; however, each program shall be interwoven into the school proceduresand environment and structured to instruct primarily through example,illustration, and participation, in such a way as to complement the Standardsof Learning. The program shall also address the inappropriateness ofbullying, as defined in the Student Conduct Policy Guidelines adopted by theBoard of Education pursuant to § 22.1-279.6.

This provision is intended to educate students regarding those core civicvalues and virtues which are efficacious to civilized society and are commonto the diverse social, cultural, and religious groups of the Commonwealth.Consistent with this purpose, Virginia's civic values, which are theprinciples articulated in the Bill of Rights (Article I) of the Constitutionof Virginia and the ideals reflected in the seal of the Commonwealth, asdescribed in § 1-500, may be taught as representative of such civic values.Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring or authorizing theindoctrination in any particular religious or political belief.

B. The Board of Education shall establish criteria for character educationprograms, consistent with the provisions of this section. To assist schooldivisions in implementing character education programs and practices that aredesigned to promote the development of personal qualities as set forth inthis section and the Standards of Quality and that will improve family andcommunity involvement in the public schools, the Board of Education shallalso establish, within the Department of Education, the CommonwealthCharacter Initiative. The Board shall provide resources and technicalassistance to school divisions regarding successful character educationprograms and shall (i) identify and analyze effective character educationprograms and practices and (ii) collect and disseminate among schooldivisions information regarding such programs and practices and potentialfunding and support sources. The Board may also provide resources supportingprofessional development for administrators and teachers in the delivery ofany character education programs.

C. The Board of Education shall award, with such funds as are appropriatedfor this purpose, grants to school boards for the implementation ofinnovative character education programs.

(1998, c. 725; 1999, c. 944; 2003, c. 777; 2005, cc. 461, 484, 839.)