One of only four Maryland schools to be honored
Character.org (formerly the Character Education Partnership), a national character education advocate, recently recognized 64 schools and three districts from 14 states as 2015 National Schools of Character, including Harford County’s Magnolia Elementary School. Since Character.org’s Schools of Character program’s inception in 1998, 312 schools and 21 districts have been designated with this prestigious designation impacting more than 1.5 million students.
The Schools of Character application process provides an opportunity for schools to receive feedback as well as recognition for growth and excellence in the area of character education as measured by Character.org’s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education framework. National Schools of Character are schools that have demonstrated through a detailed evaluation process that character education has had a positive impact on academics, student behavior, and school climate. The designated schools earn the right to use the National School of Character name and logo for five years.
In March and April, all 104 National School of Character finalists underwent an intensive screening process that included site visits, conference calls, and an analysis of the impact that their character-related efforts had on academics, student behavior, and school culture as part of the consideration to be named a National School of Character.
Character.org will honor the designated schools and districts at its 22nd National Forum on Character Education to be held the weekend of October 15-17, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the National Forum, the Schools of Character program (State & National), and the 2015 national honorees.
In addition to being named both a Maryland and National 2015 School of Character, Magnolia Elementary School was recently recognized as the 2015 recipient of Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award; was the 2014 Gold Award recipient from Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS); and was the Maryland Center for Character Education at Stevenson University School of the Year for 2013-14.
About Character.org: Founded in 1993, Character.org, is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. It works with schools and districts to educate, inspire and empower young people to be ethical and engaged citizens. It is led by education leaders who are dedicated to teaching youth how to be both smart and good through the advancement of quality character development in all schools. The impact of this is seen through improved academic achievement, decline in behavioral problems such as truancy and school violence, and an increase in an overall positive school climate. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the National Forum and the Schools of Character program.
About Character Education: Character education is an educational movement that supports the social, emotional and ethical development of students. It is the proactive effort by schools, districts, communities and states to help students develop important core ethical (recognizing what’s right) and performance (doing what’s right) values such as caring, honesty, diligence, fairness, fortitude, responsibility, grit, creativity, critical thinking and respect for self and others.
