| (a) Implementation. The provisions of this section
shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2021-2022
school year.
(1) School districts and open-enrollment charter schools
are required to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and
skills for positive character traits and personal skills outlined
in this subchapter at least once in the following grade bands: Kindergarten-Grade
2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12.
(2) School districts may provide the required instruction
in a variety of arrangements, including through a stand-alone course
or by integrating the positive character traits standards in the essential
knowledge and skills for one or more courses or subject areas at the
appropriate grade levels.
(b) Introduction.
(1) Character education introduces students to character
traits and personal skills that empower them to be good citizens who
are trustworthy, responsible, and caring. The character traits and
personal skills reflect positive beliefs, attitudes, and mindsets;
provide opportunities for self-reflection; and permit students to
apply effective strategies to make decisions, solve problems, and
behave responsibly.
(2) The standards for positive character traits and
personal skills are comprised of four strands: trustworthiness, responsibility,
caring, and citizenship. Each strand consists of the following character
traits and personal skills.
(A) Trustworthiness: honesty, integrity, loyalty, punctuality,
and reliability.
(B) Responsibility: accountability, diligence, perseverance,
self-control, and self-management.
(C) Caring: interpersonal skills, including charity,
compassion, consideration, cooperation, empathy, generosity, kindness,
and patience.
(D) Good citizenship: having concern for the common
good and the community; having respect for authority, law, justice,
and the rights of others; being free from prejudice; having gratitude
and school pride; being courteous, fair, and patriotic; and making
responsible decisions.
(3) Students are expected to develop an awareness of
self-identity as well as recognize multiple perspectives, differences,
diversity, biases, and the social and cultural context in which they
live.
(4) The knowledge and skills for positive character
traits and personal skills are organized in the following grade bands:
Kindergarten-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. However,
due to the complexity of the concepts, student expectations and knowledge
and skills statements cannot be taught, discussed, or viewed in isolation.
(5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference
content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such
as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
(1) Trustworthiness. The student understands how personal
skills, choices, and actions build trustworthiness. The student is
expected to:
(A) identify and define traits of trustworthiness,
including reliability and loyalty;
(B) identify and practice strategies for being honest
and punctual; and
(C) define and identify examples of unethical behavior.
(2) Responsibility. The student understands how personal
choices are associated with responsibility. The student is expected
to:
(A) explain what it means to be responsible for personal
decisions and actions;
(B) describe positive and negative consequences of
personal decisions and actions;
(C) identify and demonstrate effective self-management
skills, including acting on feedback constructively and setting and
working toward goals; and
(D) describe the relationship between being responsible
and being accountable.
(3) Caring. The student understands how personal actions
and interpersonal skills demonstrate characteristics of caring. The
student is expected to:
(A) describe how feelings impact decision making and
behaviors;
(B) identify and practice interpersonal skills, including
showing consideration and compassion through listening, sharing, and
cooperating with others; and
(C) define empathy and discuss the connection between
empathy and charity.
(4) Good citizenship. The student understands that
personal responsibility and responsible decision making are associated
with good citizenship. The student is expected to:
(A) describe the differences and similarities among
gratitude, respect, and courtesy;
(B) compare fairness and justice;
(C) demonstrate responsibility and courage when making
decisions for the common good of the classroom and community; and
(D) discuss the importance of obeying laws and rules.
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