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2012 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 22.1-208.01 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 22.1-208.01. Character education required.
A. Each school board shall establish, within its existing
programs, or as a separate program, a character education program
in its schools, which may occur during the regular school year, during the
summer in a youth development academy offered by the school division, or both.
The Department of Education shall develop curricular guidelines for school
divisions to use in establishing a character education program through a summer
youth development academy. The purpose of the character education program
shall be to instill in students civic virtues and personal character traits so
as to improve the learning environment, promote student achievement, reduce
disciplinary problems, and develop civic-minded students of high character. The
components of each program shall be developed in cooperation with the students,
their parents, and the community at large. The basic character traits taught
may include (i) trustworthiness, including honesty, integrity, reliability, and
loyalty; (ii) respect, including the precepts 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 freedom from prejudice; (v) caring, including kindness,
empathy, compassion, consideration, generosity, and charity; and (vi)
citizenship, including patriotism, the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the
American flag, concern for the common good, respect for authority and the law,
and community-mindedness.
Classroom instruction may be used to supplement a character education program; however, each program shall be interwoven into the school procedures and environment and structured to instruct primarily through example, illustration, and participation, in such a way as to complement the Standards of Learning. The program shall also address the inappropriateness of bullying, as defined in the Student Conduct Policy Guidelines adopted by the Board of Education pursuant to § 22.1-279.6.
This provision 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. Consistent with this purpose, Virginia's civic values, which are the principles articulated in the Bill of Rights (Article I) of the Constitution of Virginia and the ideals reflected in the seal of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500, may be taught as representative of such civic values. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring or authorizing the indoctrination in any particular religious or political belief.
B. The Board of Education shall establish criteria for
character education programs, consistent with the provisions of this section. To
The Department of Education shall assist school divisions in implementing
character education programs and practices that are designed to promote the
development of personal qualities as set forth in this section and the
Standards of Quality and that will improve family and community involvement in
the public schools, the Board of Education shall
also establish, within the Department of
Education, the Commonwealth Character Initiative.
The Board With such funds as are made available for this
purpose, the Department of Education shall provide resources and technical
assistance to school divisions regarding successful character education
programs and shall (i) identify and analyze effective character education
programs and practices and (ii) collect and disseminate among school divisions
information regarding such programs and practices and potential funding and
support sources. The Board Department of Education may also
provide resources supporting professional development for administrators and
teachers in the delivery of any character education programs.
C. The Board Department of Education shall
award, with such funds as are appropriated for this purpose, grants to school
boards for the implementation of innovative character education programs,
including a summer youth development academy.