Section 20-2-145 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Comprehensive character education program(a) The State Board of Education shall develop by the start of the 1997-1998 school year a comprehensive character education program for levels K-12. This comprehensive character education program shall be known as the 'character curriculum' and shall focus on the students' development of the following character traits: courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty, fairness, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, compassion, tolerance, diligence, generosity, punctuality, cleanliness, cheerfulness, school pride, respect for the environment, respect for the creator, patience, creativity, sportsmanship, loyalty, perseverance, and virtue. Such program shall also address, by the start of the 2025-2026 school year, methods of discouraging bullying and violent acts against fellow students and methods of promoting responsible digital citizenship and the safe and appropriate use of technology, the internet, and social media. Local governing bodies shall implement such a program in all grade levels at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year and shall provide opportunities for parental involvement in establishing expected outcomes of the character education program.(b) The Department of Education shall develop character education program workshops designed for public school employees .Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 463,§ 2-1, eff. 7/1/2025.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.