Outcomes - Pathways to Character

With documented results, the Pathways to Character program proves that character education is more than just a nice idea. In a pilot study that included schools in urban, suburban, and rural communities, researchers found that students, parents, and teachers engaged in the Pathways to Character program all experienced positive results.

Supporting Teachers

Teachers reported that participating in Pathways to Character improved student behavior. Teachers specifically mentioned improvement in areas associated with bullying. By the end of the project period, 99% of teachers reported using the character education lessons, expressing satisfaction and commitment to the program.

Impacting Students

Student surveys showed positive trends in students' attitudes and behavior for eight of the nine character traits, especially in the areas of trustworthiness, responsibility, and citizenship. And progress extended to academic achievement, too-after one year of implementing the program, three of the five schools increased scores on a state language arts assessment.

Involving Parents

Parents who attended parenting workshops as part of the Pathways to Character program enhanced their parenting skills, with 90% of workshop respondents saying their confidence as parents had increased. Parents also said they observed improved behavior in their children.

The documentation of Pathways to Character's success is ongoing, with new research on a four-year implementation of the program in Buffalo Public Schools currently being conducted by the University of Missouri - St. Louis.