2010 National and State Schools of Character Awards

Applications are due December 1, 2009. Reminder: the portfolio has been limited this year to 15 pages.


The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring and Character Education Partnership (CEP) are pleased to announce the 2010 Utah Schools of Character (USOC) competition. Many states including Utah are now conducting a State School of Character competition as a preliminary step to advancing to the Character Education Partnership's (CEP) National awards program, the NSOC awards.  The Utah Schools of Character program is endorsed by the Utah State Office of Education.

The USOC and NSOC applications are the same.  However, if your school or district is located in Utah, you must apply directly to the EKS National Center for Community of Caring, not to CEP. 

Every year, CEP names approximately 10 public and private schools and districts (K-12) as National Schools of Character (NSOC) for their outstanding work in character education.  CEP writes articles about the NSOC and showcases them on the CEP website. Winners receive national and local press coverage and have the right to use the NSOC awards name and logo. CEP honors the winners with a banner and a certificate at CEP’s National Forum on Character Education. National award winners receive a grant from CEP to fulfill their role as ambassadors of character education. They present at CEP’s National Forum and provide staff development and mentoring for other educators. From the ever-increasing pool of top-rated schools and districts, CEP selects distinctive models that offer demographic variety in areas such as geographic location, socio-economic status, and grade level. The Utah School of Character winner will advance to the National School of Character award competition.


Documents Needed to Apply

 

For more information about the Utah Schools of Character awards program, contact Penny Keith at pkeith@communityofcaring.org.

Click here for details about and to RSVP for the 2010 Utah State Schools of Character Awards Ceremony - Friday, April 16, 2010 at the Alumni House on the Univeristy of Utah campus. Beforehand, a 2011 Utah State Schools of Character: Review of Program Guidelines and Technical Assistance in Application Preparation Meeting will be offered (click to RSVP).

 

Additional Resources
More information on CEP's National Schools of Character (NSOC) - including previous winners

Promising Practices

EKS National Center for Community of Caring is the USOC Facilitator

Application Tips from Evaluators

Application Process PowerPoint Presentation

Sample Applications

 

Click here to view previous National Schools of Character Finalists.

Click here to view a detailed report on the 2008 State Schools of Character results.


Click here for a reflection of the 2009 Utah Schools of Character & Innovative Practices Award Ceremony.