(a) The state board shall establish a comprehensive approach to integrate character education into all aspects of school culture, school functions and existing curriculum.
(b) The state board shall require all public schools that operate from preschool to grade twelve to develop and integrate components of character development into their existing curriculum. The schools may incorporate such programs as "life skills", "responsible students", or any other program encompassing any of the following components:
(1) Honesty;
(2) Caring;
(3) Citizenship;
(4) Justice;
(5) Fairness;
(6) Respect;
(7) Responsibility;
(8) Voting;
(9) Academic achievement;
(10) Completing homework assignments;
(11) Improving daily attendance;
(12) Avoiding and resolving conflicts;
(13) Alternatives to violence;
(14) Contributing to an orderly positive school environment;
(15) Participating in class;
(16) Resisting social peer pressures to smoke, drink and use drugs;
(17) Developing greater self-esteem and self-confidence;
(18) Effectively coping with social anxiety;
(19) Increasing knowledge of the immediate consequences of substance abuse;
(20) Increasing knowledge of the consequences of ones actions;
(21) The corrupting influence and chance nature of gambling; and
(22) The value of decent, honest work.
(c) Character education shall be integrated into each public school curriculum by September 1, 2001.
(d) The state board shall assist county boards in developing in-service training regarding integrated character education as provided in this section.
(e) The State Department of Education is encouraged to utilize any existing moneys available to the department for existing character development programs, along with any new funds appropriated for the purposes of this section, to secure the maximum amount of any federal funding available for which the state department is eligible to receive for implementing character development in the schools.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 2. State Board of Education
§18-2-1. Creation; Composition; Appointment, Qualifications, Terms and Removal of Members; Offices
§18-2-3. Meetings; Compensation and Expenses of Members
§18-2-4. Organization; Appointment, Compensation and Duties of Secretary
§18-2-5a. Board Rules to Be Filed With Legislature
§18-2-5b. Medicaid-Eligible Children; School Health Services Advisory Committee
§18-2-5d. Duty of Board to Report Guidelines for Productive and Safe Schools
§18-2-5e. Higher Education Participation in Development and Use of Public Education Assessments
§18-2-5f. Use of Student Social Security Numbers
§18-2-5h. Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act
§18-2-6a. Sale of Healthy Beverages and Soft Drinks in Schools
§18-2-7. Courses of Study; Language of Instruction
§18-2-7a. Legislative Findings; Required Physical Education; Program in Physical Fitness
§18-2-7b. Programs in Drug Prevention and Violence Reduction
§18-2-7c. Program in Personal Finance
§18-2-7d. Program in Workforce Preparedness
§18-2-7f. Alternative Educational Opportunities for Elective Course Credit
§18-2-8. Course of Study in Fire Prevention
§18-2-8a. Hunter Safety Orientation Program
§18-2-8b. West Virginia Remembers Program; Rulemaking
§18-2-9. Required Courses of Instruction
§18-2-9a. Elective Courses of Instruction on the Bible
§18-2-10. Certificates and Awards
§18-2-11. Sabbatical Leaves for Teachers and Certain Aides
§18-2-12. Computer Science Courses of Instruction; Learning Standards; State Board Plan Development
§18-2-13. Character Education Integration
§18-2-13a. Control of Property and Business Affairs of State Educational Institutions
§18-2-13c. Payroll Deductions for Employees' Participation in Group Insurance Plans
§18-2-13d. Marshall University
§18-2-13e. Transfer of Property for the Use of Marshall University
§18-2-25b. Emergency Action Plans for Athletics
§18-2-25c. Defibrillator Required at Certain Events
§18-2-26. Abolishment and Transition of Regional Education Service Agencies
§18-2-27. Authority to Contract for Programs, Services and Facilities
§18-2-29. Competitive Grant Program for Selected Schools and School Districts
§18-2-32. Posthumous High School Diplomas
§18-2-33. Rules for Antihazing
§18-2-35. Dress Codes Requiring School Uniforms for Students
§18-2-36. Framework for Initiating Comprehensive Transformation of School Leadership
§18-2-39. College and Career Readiness Initiative
§18-2-40. Suicide Prevention Awareness Training; Dissemination of Information
§18-2-40a. Education on and Prevention of Self-Harm Behavior and Eating Disorders
§18-2-41. Education and Prevention of the Sexual Abuse of Children
§18-2-43. Addressing Disciplinary Action in West Virginia Schools