The Positivity Project in Michigan
Character Education Born from Michigan’s Own Research
The science behind The Positivity Project started right here in Michigan. Dr. Chris Peterson, a University of Michigan professor and one of the founders of positive psychology, spent over a decade classifying and studying the 24 character strengths that sit at the heart of everything P2 teaches. His words “Other People Matter” became the foundation of a curriculum that now reaches 800+ schools across more than 20 states.
Today, Michigan schools from Metro Detroit, to the Thumb, to the U.P. are using P2 to build stronger school cultures, reduce discipline issues, and give every student a common language for character and relationships — in just 15 minutes a day.
228
Partner Schools
across Michigan
66
Michigan Districts
with Partner Schools
12,000
Michigan educators
using P2
111,000
Michigan students
learning character strengths
The Research That Started It All
Most character education programs cite research. P2 was built on it — and that research has Michigan roots.
Dr. Chris Peterson was a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan and co-director of the Michigan Positive Psychology Center. He was among the 100 most widely cited psychologists in the world and served as research director of the Values in Action (VIA) project, which classified the 24 character strengths that P2 Partner Schools teach every day. His VIA Survey of Signature Strengths has been completed by more than a million people worldwide.
Dr. Peterson often began his lectures with a simple statement: “I can sum up positive psychology in just three words — Other People Matter.”
When P2 co-founders Mike Erwin and Jeff Bryan set out to empower America’s youth, they built their mission on Dr. Peterson’s legacy. Erwin had studied under Peterson at the University of Michigan, and the two shared a conviction that character and relationships are the cornerstones of a meaningful life.
In my 31 years as an educator, I’ve seen countless character ed programs come and go. This is the first I’ve experienced that has made a noticeable difference in our schools and amongst our community. Teachers embrace it, students learn and develop from it, and our community is the beneficiary of it.
Dr. Joe DiPonio
Superintendent, Lake Shore Public Schools
St. Clair Shores, MI
Built for Michigan’s Whole-Child Vision
Michigan has made clear that educating the whole child is a priority. The state’s “Top 10 in 10” strategic plan outlined seven goals for the education system, and four of them align directly to building students’ character, relationships, and personal development.
P2 fits squarely within that vision. Here’s how our curriculum maps to the competencies Michigan has identified as essential:
✓ Knowing yourself — P2 lessons help students identify their own character strengths and understand how those strengths shape their actions, choices, and relationships.
✓ Managing emotions and behavior — P2 teaches students to apply strengths like perseverance, self-control, and prudence to navigate challenges and stay focused on their goals.
✓ Understanding others — The Other People Mindset — the relational core of P2 — builds empathy and perspective-taking through lessons on being present, supporting others, and recognizing the good in people around you.
✓ Building strong relationships — Every P2 lesson reinforces the idea that strong character leads to strong relationships, giving students and staff a shared vocabulary for how they treat one another.
✓ Making responsible decisions — P2’s emphasis on integrity, fairness, and perspective equips students to think carefully about the impact of their decisions on others.
Schools like Novi Community School District are using P2 as a proactive Tier 1 resource within their Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework not as a box to check, but as the heartbeat of their school culture.
The Positivity Project and CTE
Technical skills get students hired. Durable skills, like leadership, self-control, and teamwork, are what keep them employed.
P2’s 24 character strengths map directly to the employability competencies employers need. In 15 minutes a day, CTE educators can build the foundation for work-based learning, credentials, and careers.
How P2 fits Michigan CTE:
✓ Aligns with the Michigan Career Development Model (MCDM) across all four phases
✓ Supports 16 career clusters
✓ Eligible use for CTE Pathways to Success grants
✓ Generates Perkins-ready evidence for CLNA and advisory board reporting
✓ Bipartisan support from Michigan legislators
Bring P2 to Your Michigan School
Michigan students deserve a school culture where character matters, relationships are strong, and every person feels valued. The Positivity Project gives your school the tools to build that culture — grounded in the research that started right here in Michigan, and proven in classrooms across the state.
It takes 15 minutes a day. The impact lasts a lifetime.
Real Michigan Schools, Real Results
Lobbestael Elementary, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools, Harrison Township
In 2022, staff at Lobbestael Elementary were dealing with significant disciplinary issues. A few educators brought up The Positivity Project at a staff meeting, and a volunteer team agreed to give it a try. Four months later, the results spoke for themselves.
P2 created a common language across all grade levels for talking about behavior and character. Students began identifying traits like integrity, curiosity, and bravery — and noticing those traits in each other. Teachers found that P2 lessons worked naturally during morning meetings or snack-time brain breaks. And the data shifted dramatically: bus violations dropped by 75%, and recess and school behavior issues fell by 50%.
Palms Elementary, East China School District, Fair Haven
Palms Elementary set three major goals in December of 2024: strengthen school culture, invest in student character and behavior, and improve state test scores by 10% in every grade. They rolled out multiple new initiatives to achieve these, but it was The Positivity Project that made the biggest difference.
Teachers implemented P2’s ready-to-use slide decks multiple times each week. Daily announcements and cafeteria displays highlighted the weekly character strength. Student of the Month recognition was tied directly to P2 strengths, honoring students and staff who exemplified the featured traits.
Within two months, discipline referrals declined. Teachers reported a stronger sense of community and increased academic focus. And the academic results were striking — nearly every state assessment showed gains exceeding 10%, with some grade levels improving by as much as 20%. Staff credited P2 as a key driver of the positive shift.
Lake Orion Community Schools
Lake Orion’s P2 journey started in 2017 with a single partner school. By 2022, all six elementary schools and three middle schools had officially adopted P2 across the district.
Then they took it beyond the classroom. In 2024, an Elementary P2 Leadership Committee planned the district’s first-ever P2 Palooza — a family engagement event hosted at Lake Orion High School with a budget of just $600. More than 20 interactive stations brought character strengths to life: families built gratitude jars, took on teamwork challenges, and designed P2 shields together. Nearly 70 high school student volunteers, many of whom first experienced P2 in elementary school, led stations and mentored younger students. Over 400 families attended.
As Principal Gretchen Hynes of Stadium Drive Elementary wrote: “P2 Palooza was more than an event — it was a celebration of who we are as a community and the strengths we build together.”
Funding P2 in Michigan
The Positivity Project is eligible for multiple federal and Michigan-specific funding sources, making it accessible for schools of all sizes and budgets.
✓ Federal Funding P2 meets the criteria for a Tier 2 evidence-based intervention under ESSA, making it eligible for Title I (Improving Basic Programs), Title II (Supporting Effective Instruction), Title IV-A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment), and Title V funds. P2’s inclusion of professional learning, family engagement resources (P2 for Families), and safe/supportive school environment strategies aligns with the intent of each of these programs.
✓ Michigan-Specific Funding P2 aligns with Michigan funding opportunities, including the Stronger Connections Grant. Michigan’s Section 31a At-Risk funding can also be applied toward P2, supporting districts in meeting the needs of vulnerable student populations.
✓ Curriculum, PD, and PTO Funds P2 includes access to a full curriculum (37 weeks of Tier 1 digital lessons, PBL units, and elective-ready courses), professional learning (including P2 100 Video Training and ongoing PD), and P2 for Families. Many districts use curriculum funds, professional development budgets, or PTO contributions to cover the cost of a P2 partnership.
Building a Unified School Culture From the Ground Up
How Carpenter Elementary in Lake Orion used The Positivity Project to bring together students from six different buildings and watched character education become part of everyday life.
Strengthening The School-to-Home Connection with P2
Pinckney Superintendent Rick Todd shares how weekly newsletters, emails, and videos keep parents connected to the Positivity Project, and why families are embracing it.
Whole-child development has always been at the center of what we believe in at Palms Elementary. The Positivity Project gave us a simple yet powerful way to live that belief out loud, every single day. It helped us meet our academic goals, yes—but more importantly, it gave our school community a collective identity rooted in empathy, kindness, and mutual respect.
Mike Domagalski
Principal, Palms Elementary
Fair Haven, MI
The Positivity Project is an ESSA Tier 2 evidence-based character education curriculum for PreK–12 schools. Founded on the research of Dr. Chris Peterson at the University of Michigan. 800+ Partner Schools in 20+ states — including 228 schools across Michigan. Featured by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) and the Macomb Daily.