Every year, CEP names 10 schools (K-12) as National Schools of Character (NSOC) for their exemplary work in character education. Although the methods and implementation are not specified by CEP, schools must demonstrate that they have implemented  comprehensive, effective character education programs that adhere to CEP’s  Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education  and that may serve as models for others.

The criteria used to judge National Schools of Character award winners is CEP’s Revised Character Education Quality Standards.

In 2006, Ridgewood Middle School (Arnold, MO) was named 1 of 10 National Schools of Character (NSOC) after implementing The Flippen Group’s character education program Capturing Kids’ Hearts.

Because the Flippen Group processes and curricula adhere to CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education, our programs are listed in the Character Education Program Resources Profile Directory at the CEP affiliate, the New Jersey Character Education Partnership (NJCEP).

CHARACTER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (CEP) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Although there is no single recipe for implementing an effective character education program, the Character Education Partnership has identified eleven important basic principles underlying character education. The following CEP principles serve as criteria that schools and other groups can use to plan a character education effort. They can be used in conjunction with CEP's Character Education Quality Standards to evaluate available character education programs, books, and curriculum resources.

CEP’s Eleven Basic Principles of Character Education

Principle 1: Promotes core ethical values as the basis of good character.

Principle 2: Defines "character" comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Principle 3: Uses a comprehensive, intentional, proactive, and effective approach to character development.

Principle 4
Creates a caring school community.

Principle 5
Provides students with opportunities for moral action.

Principle 6
Includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all.

Principle 7
Strives to foster students self motivation.

Principle 8
Engages the school staff as a learning and moral community that shares respons- ibility for character education and attempts to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.

Principle 9
Fosters shared moral leadership and long range support of the character education initiative.

Principle 10
Engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort.

Principle 11
Evaluates the character of the school, the school staff's functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.