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Grades Pre-K, ECSE

Grades K-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

Grades K-12

Character Education

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Positive Character Traits

As stated in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 120, character education presents students with character traits that empower them to be good citizens who are trustworthy, responsible, and caring. The character traits reflect positive beliefs, attitudes, and mindsets; deliver opportunities for self-reflection; and allow students to apply practical strategies to make decisions, solve problems, and behave responsibly (TAC, 2021). 

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Positive Character Traits is the foundational framework for building character in students by aligning with the strands: Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Caring and Citizenship.

Plano ISD supports this work through character programs CharacterStrong (K-8) and School-Connect (9-12).

Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness

The ability to understand how personal choices and actions and personal responsibility can relate to being trustworthy and building trustworthiness. The ability to understand how trustworthiness is viewed in society, politics, and the local and global community.

Traits include:

  • Loyalty
  • Integrity
  • Reliability
  • Punctuality

Responsibility

Responsibility

The ability to understand the concept of responsibility and how personal actions, choices, beliefs, and feelings associate and influence our sense of responsibility. The ability to understand how leaders demonstrate responsibility in relationships, families, societies, politics, and the global community.

Traits include:

  • Accountability
  • Perseverance
  • Diligence
  • Self-Control

Caring

Caring

The ability to understand how personal actions demonstrate characteristics of caring and how it impacts personal relationships. The ability to understand how characteristics of caring influence society and impact the global community.

Traits include:

  • Kindness
  • Empathy
  • Charity
  • Generosity
  • Patience
  • Consideration
  • Compassion

Citizenship

Citizenship

The ability to understand how personal actions and responsibilities can demonstrate and be associated with good citizenship, which impacts personal relationships. The ability to understand how character traits of citizenship influence our personal view of society and the local and global community.  

Traits include:

  • Respect
  • Courtesy
  • Concern for the common good and the community
  • Fairness
  • Freedom from prejudice
  • Justice
  • Patriotism
  • School pride
  • Respect for authority and law
  • Gratitude