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Board hears recommendation to adopt 'Character Strong' curriculum as tier-one behavior instruction
Summary
District presenters recommended adopting Character Strong (elementary program 'Purposeful People') as a tier-one character-education curriculum to complement PBIS, citing committee review, public input and teacher-friendly implementation tools; board discussion focused on lesson length, parental communication and phased middle-school rollout.
District staff presented a recommendation May 7 to adopt Character Strong for K'5 schools as a tier-one character-education curriculum to support PBIS and reduce disruptive behaviors.
The district reported an RFP process that included a 21-member committee of teachers, administrators, parents and one board member; the committee rated Character Strong highest on alignment with five core competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making), usability for teachers and cost. District representatives said public input meetings and an online feedback form yielded limited responses but that comments were generally positive.
Administrators told the board the elementary program, called "Purposeful People," is low-burden for teachers (core lessons about 20'35 minutes with supporting activities), includes family resources and a progress-monitoring tool, and will be rolled out K'5 next year with professional development in August and September. Middle-school materials exist but the district intends a phased approach with middle schools able to opt in after further planning.
Board members asked about classroom time commitment, reinforcement by specialists (music, art, media), and parent communication strategies. District staff said the expectation is completion of the core lessons weekly (about 20'35 minutes) and that schools would be encouraged to send supporting newsletters to families. The board did not adopt the curriculum at this meeting but received the recommendation and public-input summary.
