The West Virginia Department of Education was awarded a one million dollar grant to be used from May 2001 to May 2005 for the Partnerships in Character Education Pilot Project. This funding is to be used primarily for staff development of local school systems and to provide funding for implementing character education through sub grants.  

Each site submitted a grant application for review. The criteria for selection were based on the following goals:  

· To introduce students to the principles of character education, to develop strong character in students  

· To provide staff development for teachers and administrators in strategies for integration of character education into the existing curriculum with an emphasis on the core character traits: respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, justice and fairness, and honesty  

· To help create and sustain partnerships between schools and community to further enhance character education at the local level  

· To provide technical assistance to the entire school community to ensure alignment of the character education initiative with state initiatives  

· To ensure other accountability for effective state and local school system use of funds for the integration of character development.  

The pilots sites are: