The Center for Academic Excellence in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education is pleased to announce the creation of the Minnesota Schools of Character (MSOC) awards program. This program is modeled after the National Schools of Character (NSOC) program sponsored by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) and based on CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education.
The program will recognize schools and/or districts that excel in exemplifying the eleven principles and demonstrate outstanding character education initiatives that yield positive results in student behavior, school climate, and academic performance. We are seeking schools and/or districts to make application for the 2008 awards program – applications are due December 3, 2007. To be eligible, a school must have been engaged in character education for a minimum of three full years, starting no later than December 2004 for the 2008 awards. Districts need to have been engaged in character education for a minimum of four full years, starting no later than December 2003.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select schools/districts for recognition as the 2008 Minnesota Schools/Districts of Character. Recognition will also be awarded for the best Promising Practices. The top Minnesota applicants will be referred on to the National Schools of Character competition where ten $20,000 grants will be awarded by the John Templeton Foundation. The Minnesota Schools of Character Awardees and best Promising Practices will be honored in May at a statewide special recognition event, in addition to special recognition assemblies at their school sites.
2008 Minnesota Schools of Character Awards Application Form (Acrobat PDF)
Minnesota Promising Practices Awards
The MN Schools of Character is sponsoring MN Promising Practices Awards in 2008 to recognize schools in Minnesota that have developed and implemented a practice that promotes character development in their schools. If your school or district has developed and successfully implemented a unique practice, we encourage you to apply for a Promising Practices award.
A Blue-Ribbon Panel will select those practices deemed to qualify as MN Promising Practices. These Promising Practices will be recognized at a statewide celebration in May and posted to the CAE to share with others.
All Minnesota applications must be submitted electronically by March 1, 2008.
2008 Promising Practices Application Guidelines* (Acrobat PDF)
MN Promising Practices Application Cover Sheet (Microsoft Word doc)
*You may submit the same promising practice application for consideration at the national level. Apply on-line at: www.character.org/nsoc. National applications are due by March 15, 2008.
Click for more information and examples of award-winning promising practices.
