§18-2-13. Character education integration.

(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.