We support school leaders as they develop and strengthen their school’s comprehensive character initiative.
Character.org was founded by educators who envisioned a future where every school inspires young people to understand, care about, and practice the character strengths that will enable them to flourish in school, in the workplace, and as citizens.
Schools of Character
More than 3 million educators, students, parents and community members across the country and internationally have been positively impacted by being involved with a School of Character.
Promising Practices
We celebrate the creative approaches schools and organizations have put in place to help children and teens understand, care about and consistently practice the core values that will enable them to flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace and as citizens.
CSED National Guidelines
Character.org published the National Guidelines for Character and Social-Emotional Development (CSED) to fuse together character and social-emotional development.
virtual forum
Creating a Sustainable Culture of Character
Houston Kraft shared what he’s learned about the approaches schools put in place to create a sustainable culture of character during our Virtual Forum in October. View an edited clip from his keynote on our YouTube channel.
Houston Kraft is a professional speaker, author, curriculum designer, and kindness advocate who speaks at schools, conferences, and events internationally. He has spoken to over a half a million people at 600 engagements and counting. He is the co-founder of CharacterStrong – trainings and curriculums that create more compassionate cultures in schools and communities. They work with 2,500 schools serving over 1 million students with their content. His published is first book, Deep Kindness, in 2020.
Programs
Laws of Life Essay Contest
Character.org received a grant from the School for Ethical Education to establish the Laws of Life Essay Contest worldwide. This important program is a great first step to exploring a student’s values and their impact, by encouraging everyone in grades 4 through 12 to reflect and write about a core value that means the most to them – and why. Learn More
Interested in learning more?
These organizations can help you get started:
CharacterPlus
Promote positive character development in young people by partnering with schools, families, and communities to provide character education evidence-based processes, expert support, and professional resources.
Character Counts
Provides practical character education/SEL strategies, curricular resources, and training to positively impact your school system, community, youth-serving, or people-helping organization.
Choose Love Movement
Their mission is to create safer and more loving communities through no cost Character Social Emotional Development programs (CSED) that are free of cost and suited for all stages of life.
CITRS
Empowering people to achieve success by building a strong foundation of character.
Center for Character and Citizenship
Fostering the development of character, democratic citizenship and civil society.
CharacterStrong
Our curricula and trainings are focused on fostering the Whole Child with vertically-aligned lessons that teach SEL and character, side-by-side.
The Hope Institute
We equip educators to cultivate character one school at a time.
The Positivity Project
Empower your students to build positive relationships and become their best selves — whether learning is in-person, virtual, or hybrid. #PositivityInAction
Excellence with Integrity Institute
We help organizations become the best they can be.
New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development
Assists educators and all other stakeholders in their efforts to foster ethical, responsible and caring people as they model and teach the social-emotional skills and core ethical values that lead to good character.
