As the millennium changed, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman was working to assure that all New Jersey schools develop character-education programs. As part of the character education initiative she announced in January 2000, school districts adopting a “program of merit” will receive state funding to implement a character development program for 2001. The New Jersey Department of Education selected CHARACTER COUNTS! as one of the state "programs of merit" because of its ability to provide training programs and student assessment surveys. At least 85 school districts chose to work with CC!. New Jersey teachers, who must accumulate 100 credit hours over five years to retain their credentials, could earn hours for attending a CC! Character Development Seminar.