If one of the goals of education is to build a better society, then schools today must take on responsibilities that once were the domain of the home. In addition, numerous research studies have found that character education brings with it other educational benefits:

(1) helps create a sense of community in schools

(2) helps students succeed in school and in life

(3) helps students to prepare for life's challenges

(4) helps increase prosocial behaviors and decrease negative attitudes and behaviors in students

(5) helps students to care about values and act upon them. (Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education, Principle 1: 12-13.)