1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; modifying character development education responsibilities;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.232, subdivision 1.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.232, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Character development education. (a) Character education is the shared 
1.7 	responsibility of parents, teachers, and members of the community, who jointly support 
1.8 	positive character development. The legislature encourages districts to integrate or offer 
1.9 	instruction on character education including, but not limited to, character qualities such as 
1.10 	attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, 
1.11 	patience, forgiveness, respect for others, peacemaking, and resourcefulness. Instruction 
1.12 	should be integrated into a district's existing programs, curriculum, or the general school 
1.13 	environment. The commissioner shall provide assistance at the request of a district to develop 
1.14 	character education curriculum and programs.
1.15 	(b) Character development education under paragraph (a) may include a voluntary 
1.16 	elementary, middle, and high school program that incorporates the history and values of 
1.17 	Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and may be offered as part of the social studies, 
1.18 	English language arts, or other curriculum, as a schoolwide character building and veteran 
1.19 	awareness initiative, or as an after-school program, among other possibilities.