Since 1998, the Leadership Academy in Character Education (LACE) has helped over 500 school leaders develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to create, implement and evaluate programs and processes that make their schools true learning communities in which character education is a vital part of the curriculum and culture.

LACE is a complex and comprehensive year-long professional development experience for school leaders.  Its elements include:

1. a starter library in character education,
2. peer networking,
3. attendance at a regional character education conference,
4. a series of monthly full day workshops by national experts
5. a curriculum of monthly written collaborative reflections with expert constructive feedback
6. development of a site-specific character education plan
7. collaborative site-based planning
8. site visits to national award winning schools and presentations by award winning principals.
9. an option for up to 6 graduate credits for LACE participation.
10. eligibility for Advanced Certification by CHARACTERplus.

LACE has a demonstrable record of success. This can be seen, for example, in the number of leaders whose schools have won independent recognition for excellence in character education. Each year, the Character Education Partnership(CEP), based on a rigorous set of criteria, recognizes public and private schools and school districts in the United States as models of effective character education. As part of their National Schools of Character program, The first LACE was established in St. Louis in 1998 as a partnership of the Center for Character and Citizenship at UMSL and CHARACTERplus. As of 2011, 23 schools and districts in the St. Louis region led by LACE graduates have earned recognition as National Schools/Districts of Character.  That represents more than 25% of all schools and districts so recognized in the entire country. In 2010, a second LACE was established in Milwaukee, WI serving that region.

LACE begins in January each year. Click here for an online application.

• Applications will not be complete until we recieve the letter of support.  It can be mailed (Center for Character and Citizenship, 401 Marillac Hall, UMSL, One University Blvd., St. Louis MO 63121-4400) or faxed (314-516-7356) to us.
• There is a $500.00 fee for each LACE participant to cover part of the estimated $4000 cost of LACE.  We cover the rest of the costs through grants and donations.

Sanford N. McDonnell Leadership Academy in Character Education
Schedule for 2013 Cohort