Effective September 1, 2019, Texas House Bill 1026 (HB 1026) amended the Texas Education Code to require the State Board of Education to integrate positive character traits into the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) K-12, as appropriate. According to the Bill’s language, each school district and open-enrollment charter school in Texas must adopt a character education program that includes lessons around specific character traits, outlined within the Bill. Following appropriate protocols, this new amendment, now referred to as New 19 TAC Chapter 120, Other Essential Knowledge and Skills, Subchapter A, Character Traits, was officially adopted by the SBOE in September 2020, with an effective date of August 1, 2021.
According to the introduction included within the language of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Positive Character Traits; “Character education introduces students to character traits that empower them to be good citizens who are trustworthy, responsible, and caring. The character traits reflect positive beliefs, attitudes, and mindsets; provide opportunities for self-reflection; and permit students to apply practical strategies to make decisions, solve problems, and behave responsibly. The standards for positive character traits are comprised of four strands: trustworthiness, responsibility, caring, and citizenship. Each strand consists of the following character traits:
- Trustworthiness: loyalty, integrity, reliability, and punctuality
- Responsibility: accountability, perseverance, diligence, and self-control
- Caring: kindness, empathy, charity, generosity, patience, consideration, and compassion
- Citizenship: respect, courtesy, concern for the common good and the community, fairness, freedom from prejudice, justice, patriotism, school pride, respect for authority and law, and gratitude
Students are expected to develop an awareness of self-identity as well as recognize multiple perspectives, difference and diversity, biases, and the social and cultural context in which they live.” (Adopted New 19 TAC Chapter 120, Other Essential Knowledge and Skills, Subchapter A, Character Traits)
The Positivity Project lessons and concepts, centered around positive psychology’s 24 character strengths and the five elements of the Other People Mindset, perfectly align with the standards set forth under the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Positive Character Traits, in accordance with HB 1026, as well as the competencies and subtopics as developed by The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).
Our school-wide model, which includes daily 15-minute digital lessons, optional PBL units, and other tools, fit well into these standards. Through a dual focus on character & relationships, P2’s lessons empower America’s youth to build positive relationships and become their best selves (deliberately through lessons around the Other People Mindset and character strengths).
To see how they align at each Grade Band, click here.
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