Our Centers for Ethics:

South Dakota Survey Results, 1998-2000

The South Dakota study is already generating reaction across the nation:

Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), co-chair, Senate CHARACTER COUNTS! Task Force:

"I am not surprised that years of solid character education in our schools is now yielding positive results. Time and time again in New Mexico and elsewhere, we have seen that when students, educators and parents alike fully dedicate themselves to the six pillars of good character, the lives of our youth change for the better. In fact, the overwhelming success of the CHARACTER COUNTS! program continues to garner bipartisan support in Congress."

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), co-chair, Senate CHARACTER COUNTS! Task Force:

"Character education works and this study reflects that fact. Our schools may be built with the bricks of English, math and science, but character education certainly is the mortar. We should ensure that our children's character, as well as their minds, receives care and nurturing in our schools."

Tammy Linn, Director, Character Education, Governor's Office, Phoenix, Arizona:

"I believe the outstanding results that South Dakota experienced through CHARACTER COUNTS! are representative of hundreds of other CC! programs throughout the country, including the one Governor Hull began here in Arizona."

Bob Collins, Superintendent, District C, Los Angeles Unified School District:

"District C has embraced CHARACTER COUNTS! as a critical component of the educational program in each of our 75 schools. It is only by developing the character of each student on an ongoing basis that we can develop a culture of character in every school in which strong values and ethics are the standard for and not the exception to school climate."

Ken Fisher, The ServiceMaster Company, Downers Grove, Illinois:

"Now that our private-public sector partnership is implementing character education in so many DuPage County communities, we are looking for evaluation tools like these to measure not only the positive impact we are seeing in schools, but also in entire communities that have adopted the CHARACTER COUNTS! approach."

Gary Smit, Superintendent of Schools, District 44, Lombard, Illinois:

"I believe the South Dakota report confirms that CC! does make a difference in classrooms across the state at all age levels as verified by students, parents and teachers. It only supports with data our long-standing belief that students learn best when they learn the Six Pillars of Character."