Section: INSTRUCTION Title: CHARACTER EDUCATION Code: IGAI Status: Active (DRAFT) ‘Adopted: August 9, 1999 Last Revised: May 10, 2021 Prior Revised Dates: April 15, 2019; July 8, 2019 |. Introduction. The Madison County School Board shall provide a comprehensive character education program in each of its schools, in accordance with requirements of the Virginia legal code. The purpose of the program isto foster civic virtues and personal character traits 50 as to improve the learning environment, promote student ‘achievement, reduce disciplinary problems and develop civic-minded students of high ‘moral character. Character education shall be taught and emphasized through various ‘means including, as appropriate: school mission statements, goals, values, and procedures; classroom instruction; student participation in regular and extracurricular activities; and a positive and engaging learning environment. Character education is intended to educate students regarding those core civic values and virtues which are efficacious to civilized society and are common to the diverse social, cultural, and religious groups of the Commonwealth, Character education should complement the Standards of Leaming as appropriate. |, Character Education Program. Further guidance on the program is described below. ‘a. Recognizing that parents and guardians are primarily responsible for the character education oftheir children, schools will focus teaching efforts only on the fundamental and associated character traits identified and described in paragraph i(d) below. These traits are character qualities that are specified in state law and widely recognized across cultyres, communities, and religious faiths. ». Character Education instruction will generally avoid discussing controversial topics and will not take any particular side on topics that are significantly politically or culturally contentious, leaving such education to parental and other authority. The character education program wil not seek to teach or influence adherence to any particular religious faith or any particular politcal party or ideology. c. Parents have a right to inspect the character education curriculum. Therefore, schools will use only curriculums and texts that are able to be easily and fully shared with parents and members of the community. Parents have the right to excuse their children from participating in any part of the character education program at any time, without penalty. , Drawing heavily from Virginia legal code 22.1-208.01, and influenced by ‘community values, Madison County Public Schoo's will focus character education on‘the following character traits: ()Intearly, including trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, _and loyalty: i) Respect, including the precepts of the Golden Rule, justice, freedom ‘rom prejudice, tolerance, courtesy, and ways to counter bullying (as defined in Va, Code § 22,1-276.01); (i) Responsibility, including hard work, self-reliance, accountability, diigence, perseverance, and self-control; (jv) Kindness, including empathy, compassion, consideration, generosity, and charity; and (v) American Citizenship, including patriotism, concern for the common good, respect for authority and the law, and community-mindedness (further details on citizenship training is included in paragraph i) below). 4. Character education shall take place throughout the academic school year and. shall take place in all grade levels. Each year, children will be instructed, in age- ‘appropriate manner, on some aspect of each of the five core character traits in paragraph i(d) o'this policy. At a minimum, students shall annually receive a total of three hours of instruction on each of these five core character traits. . Madiso County Public Schools recognizes citizenship's extraordinary impact, fon our community and nation. The following steps will be taken to provide meaningful American citizenship education to all students. 1. All schools shall ensure that students receive age-appropriate and positive elements of (0) Civic knowledge and skills, focusing on student understanding and ‘appreciation ‘or the key ideals found in the Declaration of independence, the U.S. ‘Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the processes of the United States ard state ‘governments, civic and constitutional rights, and the history and heritage of the United ‘States (i) Civie values and dispositions, including respect for the fundamental ideas ‘expressed in our founding ideals, appreciation forthe high value of every 1uman life, ‘ordered liberty, personal freedoms, civil discourse, and respectfully engaging with those ‘whose perspactives differ from their own. Instruction should include Virginia's civic ‘values, as ariculated in the Bill of Rights (Article I) of the Constitution of Virginia and the: ideals reflected in the seal of the Commonwealth and as described in Va, Code § 1-500. ) Civic behaviors, including an understanding of the importance of informed political involvement through voting and other means, community service and Volunteerism, and of engaging with communities in a positive and responsible manner, 2. Instruction taught in compliance with SOL standards may meet the requirement ‘or some or all of these elements. 2, All choole ehall encourage community service and student and staff ‘volunteerism, as a means to promote good citizenship. All students shall receive annual information on community volunteer opportunities. Schools are encouraged to conduct,‘community service fairs or other events to promote service and volunteerism in @ wide array of community opportunities. 3. At least twice a school year, all schools will sponsor a unique schoo!- \ide event promoting patriotism and understanding and appreciation for the United States of America, and for the cost of maintaining American freedoms. Schools are encouraged to link such events to key American holidays or other key dates such as Consttution Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Holiday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. Schools shall also seek to promote patriotism on a recurring basis throughout the school year. 4. Schools shall maximize positive interactions and shall seek out creative and age-appropriate interactions, with parental permission, with law enforcement Personnel, judicial operations, and elected and other officials in order to build respect for and appreciation fr civilian authority and to build American citizens’ confidence and ‘rust in the American legal system, 5. All students shall at some point in their high school education take the current U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalized Civics Test, in order to assess student knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States history, principles, and form of government. This requirement is waived for non- ‘American citizens and for students who spend less than two academic years at Madison County High School. The Superintendent shall report annually to the school board the results ofthis assessment in order to provide the board an understanding of the state of civics instruction, f. Social-Emotional Leaming (SEL) curriculums) shall not replace character ‘education or the focus on teaching those character traits specified in paragraph itd). A SEL curriculum may be used to supplement the Character Education program or may be used for skil development for certain students. The SEL curriculum shall focus on teaching students how to manage their emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. ifa SEL curriculum is used, it shall be approved by the schoo! board prior to use; shall meet the requirements of Section Il(b) and l(c) of this policy; ‘and parents/guardians shall, prior to use, authorize their child to receive such instruction. As with a character education curriculum, parents/guardians have a right to ‘opt out of any SEL curriculum(s). The guidelines outlined in this section do not restrict, the ability of schoo! staff to partner with parents to provide targeted interventions or ‘Support to individual students tailored to their specific needs. Ill The character education committee, comprised of individual school personnel, central office administrators, parents, and community members, will recommend resources for use in the development of the character education curriculum. The ‘character education curriculum is supplemental to the overall educational program and, follows Policy IIAB: Supplementary Materials Selection and Adoption,IV. The superintendent shall ensure all educators involved in delivering or overseeing, ‘character education receive each year adequate and relevant character education pprofessional development training; shall oversee comprehensive pragram evalustion, ‘and engure access to adequate resources to faciltate effective delivery of the character ‘education program as described in this policy. ‘V. The superintendent shall deliver an annual update on the character education [Program to the school board, MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Legal ‘Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 1-500 ‘Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 22.1. ‘Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 22,1-207.2:1 Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 22.1-208.01 Cross References IKF: The Virginia Assessment Program and Graduation Requirements. INB: Teaching about Controversial Issues INDC: Religion in the Schools