UMSL researchers examine effects of K-12 character education
Study indicates character programs improve academic achievement

Character education can be an effective tool in student development, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

"What Works in Character Education" is the first comprehensive scientific study of the impact of character education, according to the Character Education Partnership, a nonpartisan coalition devoted to improving children's civic virtue and morals.

The project was implemented by the CEP and funded by the John Templeton Foundation. Research was conducted by Marvin Berkowitz, the Sanford N. McDonnell Endowed Professor in Education at UMSL, and Melinda Bier, affiliate assistant professor of education at UMSL.

Character education -- defined as any school-based K-12 initiative intended to develop student character -- has grown rapidly in the past few decades, but no broad-based research has been done to document its effectiveness until now.

Berkowitz and Bier analyzed 30 existing studies of character education programs to determine which strategies are the most effective. The programs studied included Great Body Shop (elementary), Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education (K-12) and Teaching Students to be Peacemakers (K-12).

The original pool of research studies numbered 57. However, Berkowitz and Bier narrowed down the list by examining only those studies that they deemed scientifically rigorous.

Berkowitz and Bier presented their findings in October at the annual CEP National Forum in Washington. According to the research, primary positive outcomes of character education include:

* Improving academic achievement
* Reducing violence, aggression and drug use
* Reducing risky sexual behavior
* Improving attitudes toward teachers and elders

"Character education can be incredibly important to our children's growth," said Esther Schaeffer, executive director and chief executive officer of CEP. "And now, for the first time, we have research that backs up the fact that it can make a difference, giving educators the tangible proof they need to implement character education programs in their schools."