(a) Implementation. The provisions of this section shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.      
        (1) School districts and open-enrollment charter schools are required to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills for positive character traits and personal skills outlined in this subchapter at least once in the following grade bands: Kindergarten-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12.       
        (2) School districts may provide the required instruction in a variety of arrangements, including through a stand-alone course or by integrating the positive character traits standards in the essential knowledge and skills for one or more courses or subject areas at the appropriate grade levels.       
      (b) Introduction.      
        (1) Character education introduces students to character traits and personal skills that empower them to be good citizens who are trustworthy, responsible, and caring. The character traits and personal skills reflect positive beliefs, attitudes, and mindsets; provide opportunities for self-reflection; and permit students to apply effective strategies to make decisions, solve problems, and behave responsibly.       
        (2) The standards for positive character traits and personal skills are comprised of four strands: trustworthiness, responsibility, caring, and citizenship. Each strand consists of the following character traits and personal skills.                  (A) Trustworthiness: honesty, integrity, loyalty, punctuality, and reliability.                   (B) Responsibility: accountability, diligence, perseverance, self-control, and self-management.                   (C) Caring: interpersonal skills, including charity, compassion, consideration, cooperation, empathy, generosity, kindness, and patience.                   (D) Good citizenship: having concern for the common good and the community; having respect for authority, law, justice, and the rights of others; being free from prejudice; having gratitude and school pride; being courteous, fair, and patriotic; and making responsible decisions.         
        (3) Students are expected to develop an awareness of self-identity as well as recognize multiple perspectives, differences, diversity, biases, and the social and cultural context in which they live.       
        (4) The knowledge and skills for positive character traits and personal skills are organized in the following grade bands: Kindergarten-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. However, due to the complexity of the concepts, student expectations and knowledge and skills statements cannot be taught, discussed, or viewed in isolation.       
        (5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.       
      (c) Knowledge and skills.      
        (1) Trustworthiness. The student understands how personal skills, choices, and actions build trustworthiness. The student is expected to:                  (A) identify and define traits of trustworthiness, including reliability and loyalty;                   (B) identify and practice strategies for being honest and punctual; and                   (C) define and identify examples of unethical behavior.         
        (2) Responsibility. The student understands how personal choices are associated with responsibility. The student is expected to:                  (A) explain what it means to be responsible for personal decisions and actions;                   (B) describe positive and negative consequences of personal decisions and actions;                   (C) identify and demonstrate effective self-management skills, including acting on feedback constructively and setting and working toward goals; and                   (D) describe the relationship between being responsible and being accountable.         
        (3) Caring. The student understands how personal actions and interpersonal skills demonstrate characteristics of caring. The student is expected to:                  (A) describe how feelings impact decision making and behaviors;                   (B) identify and practice interpersonal skills, including showing consideration and compassion through listening, sharing, and cooperating with others; and                   (C) define empathy and discuss the connection between empathy and charity.         
        (4) Good citizenship. The student understands that personal responsibility and responsible decision making are associated with good citizenship. The student is expected to:                  (A) describe the differences and similarities among gratitude, respect, and courtesy;                   (B) compare fairness and justice;                   (C) demonstrate responsibility and courage when making decisions for the common good of the classroom and community; and                   (D) discuss the importance of obeying laws and rules.         
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §120.5 adopted to be effective August 1, 2021, 45 TexReg 7423; amended to be effective June 14, 2022, 47 TexReg 3458