Research

Three studies reviewed by the WWC investigated the effects of Heartwood Ethics Curriculum for Children. One study (Leming, 2000) was a quasi-experimental design that met WWC evidence standards with reservations. The other two studies did not meet WWC evidence screens. The Leming study included 965 elementary school students in semi-rural school districts in western Pennsylvania and southern Illinois. It compared outcomes for students participating in An Ethics Curriculum for Children program with outcomes for students in comparison classes that did not use a character education curriculum. The study focused on Heartwood Ethics Curriculum for Children as implemented in classrooms rather than as a schoolwide intervention.