CETAC E-Newsletter. Student Issue. Volume 1, Number 2, Summer 2005

Overview & Synopsis

This is the second of four electronic newsletters being published this year by the U. S. Department of Education, Character Education and Civic Engagement Technical Assistance Center (CETAC). The newsletters are intended to provide the latest developments in character education and civic engagement, and this issue focuses on student involvement in character education. The Department of Education's Partnerships in Character Education Program (PCEP) grants currently demonstrate that student leadership possibilities take on many forms across the states. As examples, students are serving on character education councils and district level advisory boards; participating in forums to address character education and community issues; serving in decision making capacities as student ambassadors and student government positions; engaging in service learning activities; and participating in special projects to address community health issues such as providing care for those with Alzheimer's disease. In the provisions of the No Child Left Behind legislation, Congress recognized the importance of student involvement in character education by adding it as one of the requirements for seeking funding under the PCEP grant program. In following the spirit of the legislation, students were asked to participate in the development of this newsletter by sharing their stories, talents and skills regarding character education. The Department is hopeful that each of the articles featured in the newsletter will increase reader awareness of meaningful ways students are involved in character education and civic engagement in their communities. [The Character Education and Civic Engagement Technical Assistance Center (CETAC) is operated for the U.S. Department of Education under a contract with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).]