Sec. 29.906. CHARACTER TRAITS INSTRUCTION. (a) The State Board of Education shall integrate positive character traits into the essential knowledge and skills adopted for kindergarten through grade 12, as appropriate.

(b) The State Board of Education must include the following positive character traits:

(1) courage;

(2) trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty;

(3) integrity;

(4) respect and courtesy;

(5) responsibility, including accountability, diligence, perseverance, and self-control;

(6) fairness, including justice and freedom from prejudice;

(7) caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, and charity;

(8) good citizenship, including patriotism, concern for the common good and the community, and respect for authority and the law;

(9) school pride; and

(10) gratitude.

(c) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school must adopt a character education program that includes the positive character traits listed in Subsection (b). In developing or selecting a character education program under this section, a school district shall consult with a committee selected by the district that consists of:

(1) parents of district students;

(2) educators; and

(3) other members of the community, including community leaders.

(d) This section does not require or authorize proselytizing or indoctrinating concerning any specific religious or political belief.

(e) The agency shall:

(1) maintain a list of character education programs that school districts have implemented that meet the criteria under Subsection (b);

(2) based on data reported by districts, annually designate as a Character Plus School each school that provides a character education program that:

(A) meets the criteria prescribed by Subsection (b); and

(B) is approved by the committee selected under Subsection (c); and

(3) include in the report required under Section 39.332:

(A) based on data reported by districts, the impact of character education programs on student discipline and academic achievement; and

(B) other reported data relating to character education programs the agency considers appropriate for inclusion.

(f) The agency may accept money from federal government and private sources to use in assisting school districts in implementing character education programs that meet the criteria prescribed by Subsection (b).

(g) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 478, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 2001. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 29.903 by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1275, Sec. 2(18), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 (H.B. 3), Sec. 44, eff. June 19, 2009.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1057 (H.B. 1026), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1057 (H.B. 1026), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2019.