SB-0093, As Passed Senate, February 17, 2005

SENATE BILL No. 93

January 26, 2005, Introduced by Senators GARCIA and HARDIMAN and referred to the Committee on Education.

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1163.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1163. (1) For the 2008-2009 school year and succeeding

school years and subject to subsection (3), the department shall

develop and make available to school districts and public school

academies 1 or more model programs meeting the requirements of

subsection (2) that may be adopted and implemented for the purposes

of subsection (2).

(2) The board of a school district or local act school

district or board of directors of a public school academy is

encouraged to provide a comprehensive character development program

for pupils in each grade level it operates. All of the following

apply to this character development program:

(a) The character development program shall be similar to the

Michigan model for comprehensive school health education character

education curriculum, the character counts program, the character

first! education series, or the character unlimited program.

(b) The character development program shall be secular and

research-based and shall have documented effectiveness.

principles of effective character education published by the

national character education partnership.

(d) The character development program shall teach core ethical

values and character qualities such as honesty, fairness, kindness,

courtesy, compassion, acceptance, responsibility, respect for self

and others, respect for the property of others, and service to

others and to the community.

(e) The character education program shall be designed to

encourage each pupil to become a responsible, contributing member

of society.

(f) The character development program should be incorporated,

as much as possible, into each school's regular curriculum and

classroom instruction.

(g) The character development program should be integrated

into each school's procedures and environment to develop a school

climate that promotes positive character traits.

(3) The department's obligation under this section is limited

to the amount of funds the department has available to fulfill its