In Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, KY), behavior challenges and trauma-related stress were taking a serious toll on students and staff. Before CharacterStrong, one school reported over 430 disciplinary referrals in a single year, more referrals than students enrolled.
After implementing CharacterStrong with fidelity, the results were clear:
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52% decrease in disciplinary referrals (436 down to 217 in one year)
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Stronger culture of respect and collaboration among students
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Engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons that worked across elementary, middle, and high school
With 96,000 students and diverse needs, JCPS vetted more than 40 programs before choosing CharacterStrong for its user-friendly, relatable, and trauma-informed approach. The impact speaks for itself: safer classrooms, healthier relationships, and meaningful skill-building for life.
Across the district, chronic absenteeism dropped by 5%, that’s nearly 4,800 students showing up more consistently. In addition, a district-wide survey revealed increases in students reporting that they feel secure, want to be at school, see their school as a safe and caring place, and feel a sense of belonging in their community.
See the full JCPS story and explore what’s possible in our case study below.
