A significant element of the LACE® program educational services is the LACE Curriculum. It is comprised of a set of monthly assigned written reflections. Each month every participant is required to write a response to that month's "assignment."
There are critical aspects of this process:
The assignments are partially sequenced to build upon each other.
The assignments are semi-modular so than when combined together they comprise the basis for a site-specific implementation plan. This plan is the final piece of work to be submitted for completion of LACE.
The assignments are expected to be done collaboratively with a site-specific character education leadership team. The formation of the team is part of an early assignment. It is expected that each month the team will meet to read, reflect on, and respond to that month's assignment. This is designed to create a collaborative leadership style for the participant.
Each submitted written assignment receives detailed written feedback by the LACE Director(s). The feedback is largely constructive criticism. This is primary means of providing expert mentoring by the LACE Directors. The participant is expected to share the feedback with the Leadership Team, reflect on it collaboratively, and then revise the assignment accordingly (for inclusion in the final implementation plan).
The assignments evolve over time. The core topics are:
A report on the history, context, and demographics of the participant’s school (or district)
The make-up, justification, and functioning of the character education leadership team
A critical analysis of all relevant mission, vision, and values statements The focus is on whether they adequately prioritize character development as an outcome and character education as a pedagogy.
An audit of the current character education-relevant assets, gaps and obstacles in the school/district
A survey of the staff climate
An analysis of the level of involvement of a wide range of stakeholder groups, plus a plan for improving each
A list of established, new, planned, and desired implementation strategies These are related to key elements of effective character education.
A sustainability plan
An assessment plan
A series of personal reflections by the participants on their status and growth as Servant Leaders, with emphasis on the CViL framework of eight Servant Leader virtues
LACE® is a registered trademark of The Curators of the University of Missouri.
