SENATE BILL No. 613

July 11, 2001, Introduced by Senators GARCIA, SHUGARS, GOSCHKA, BENNETT and SIKKEMA 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 1165.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 SEC. 1165. (1) NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, 2001, THE

2 DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

3 AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMIES 1 OR MORE MODEL PROGRAMS MEETING THE

4 REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (2) THAT MAY BE ADOPTED AND IMPLE-

5 MENTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUBSECTION (2).

6 (2) THE BOARD OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR LOCAL ACT SCHOOL DIS-

7 TRICT OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY IS ENCOUR-

8 AGED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR

9 PUPILS IN EACH GRADE LEVEL IT OPERATES. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING

10 APPLY TO THIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:

00208'01 ** TAV

2

1 (A) THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SHALL BE SECULAR IN

2 NATURE.

3 (B) THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SHALL TEACH CORE ETHI-

4 CAL VALUES AND CHARACTER QUALITIES SUCH AS HONESTY, FAIRNESS,

5 KINDNESS, COURTESY, COMPASSION, ACCEPTANCE, RESPONSIBILITY,

6 RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS, RESPECT FOR THE PROPERTY OF OTHERS,

7 AND SERVICE TO OTHERS AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

8 (C) THE CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM SHALL BE DESIGNED TO

9 ENCOURAGE EACH PUPIL TO BECOME A RESPONSIBLE, CONTRIBUTING MEMBER

10 OF SOCIETY.

11 (D) THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SHOULD BE INCORPORAT-

12 ED, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, INTO EACH SCHOOL'S REGULAR CURRICULUM

13 AND CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.

14 (E) THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SHOULD BE INTEGRATED

15 INTO EACH SCHOOL'S PROCEDURES AND ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP A SCHOOL

16 CLIMATE THAT PROMOTES POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS.

00208'01 ** Final page. TAV