Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character -- that is the goal of true education.” State legislators confirmed their support of this statement in 1995 when the foundation for formal character education began and Act 95-313 was born.
ACT:
1975 Code of Alabama, Section
16-6B-2(h); 1995 Accountability
Law, Act 95-313
Summary:
The 1975 Code of Alabama mandates that ten minutes per day of character education are required for all K-12 students. The 1995 Accountability Law mandates character education. On April 20, 2001, Executive Order No. 50 was passed, establishing the Alabama Advisory for Safe Schools. A 2005 program provides every fourth grade student in Alabama with state-sponsored access to STAR Sportsmanship - a web-based
character and sportsmanship education program created byLearning Through Sports. The Alabama Department of Education provides funding for the sportsmanship education
program through CLAS (Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools).
Direct Quote from Legislation
"The State Board of Education and all local boards shall develop and implement...a
comprehensive character education program for all grades to consist of not less than ten
minutes instruction per day focusing upon the students' development of the following
character traits: Courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty, fairness, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, compassion, tolerance, diligence, generosity, punctuality, cleanliness, cheerfulness, school pride, respect for the environment, patience, creativity, sportsmanship, loyalty, and perseverance. Each plan of instruction shall include the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag" (1995 Accountability Law).
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