Roanoke awarded national grant to create comprehensive model for character education

August 15, 2026 - 01:15

A significant boost is coming to Roanoke schools, as the district has been selected for a national grant worth $300,000. The money will go toward building a comprehensive model for character education that touches every part of a student's time in school, from the first bell to the last.

Instead of a one-off program or a single classroom lesson, the goal is to weave character building into the entire student experience. That includes classroom instruction, but also extracurricular activities, lunchroom interactions, hallway conversations, and even how discipline is handled. The idea is that students should learn and practice traits like responsibility, respect, and resilience not just in one class, but across all settings.

The grant will fund new programming and resources that teachers and staff can use. It will also support training for educators, so they can guide students in a consistent way. The district plans to work with community partners to make sure the model reflects local values and needs. School leaders say the approach is not about telling students what to do, but about creating an environment where good character is practiced daily.

The project is expected to roll out in phases over the next few years. Early work will focus on planning and gathering input from teachers, parents, and students. After that, the district will introduce the new tools and practices. The hope is that this model will become a lasting framework, not a temporary initiative. By investing in the whole student, Roanoke aims to build not just better test scores, but better citizens.