What’s New at CharacterStrong for 2025–2026: Supporting the Whole Child, One Upgrade at a Time

At CharacterStrong, we’re committed to making our MTSS-aligned tools more impactful, easier to implement, and focused on what matters most: supporting the adults who help students thrive. We know that real change in schools comes from consistent, supportive adult behaviors and a shared commitment to student well-being.

This year, we’ve taken a big step forward. From updated Tier 1 and Tier 2 curricula to new tools for tracking progress, improving fidelity, and reducing the burden on educators -here’s what you can expect in 2025–2026.

Tier 1: New Bullying Content, Child Safety Units & Overall PreK–12 Lesson Improvements

Meeting the Moment with What Educators and Students Need Most

Our Tier 1 curriculum has grown in powerful ways this year with updates designed to help schools meet policy demands, reduce prep time, and deliver high-quality lessons across all grade levels.

PreK & Kindergarten Enhancements

We listened to your feedback and redesigned our PreK and Kindergarten lessons to be even more developmentally appropriate. Updates include:

• 20 new classroom-ready videos
• Adjusted language for easier understanding
• Visual-based trait posters that support non-readers
• Simplified lesson design for ease of delivery
  

Safe & Supported Campaigns: New PK- 12 Resources for Personal Safety, Mental Health, and Digital Wellness

A major addition this year is our Safe & Supported unit—a flexible, schoolwide campaign model addressing some of the most sensitive and essential topics for today’s students:

• Personal Safety (aligned to Erin’s Law)
• Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
• Online Wellness & Digital Habits
• Substance Use & Healthy Choices

• Grade-level-specific lessons (PreK–12)
• Family communication templates
• Administrator and counselor tools
• Prebuilt social media and schoolwide reinforcement resources

These are real-world, policy-aligned supports that make implementation easier and more cohesive across a school community.

Expanded Bullying Prevention Curriculum for K–12

Our proactive bullying prevention curriculum has expanded! Now:

• Every grade level receives a unique, developmentally-appropriate lesson
• Lessons build over time and are aligned to age-specific outcomes
• Resources include staff training and family engagement tools
• Content emphasizes student advocacy, mental health, and digital behaviors

Future Readiness Curriculum (High School)

Coming August 2025: new content for high schoolers focused on soft skills and employability—critical components of life readiness. Topics include:

• Communication and self-advocacy
• Professional conduct in online and in-person settings
• Prioritizing and managing time
• Understanding workplace expectations

This flexible content can be used within core instruction, advisory, or CTE programs—and it’s included with Tier 1 access.

Reminder: All of the above are included in Tier 1 at no additional cost.

Tier 2: Easier to Use, Easier to Track, Better for Students

Built for Teams, Designed for Students

We heard you: You love the heart behind our Tier 2 solution, but you wanted it to be easier to use, more customizable, and more engaging for students. This year, we delivered.

New Tier 2 Dashboard

Everything you need, all in one place:

• Which students are receiving Tier 2 supports
• Who is facilitating each group
• Session fidelity and completion
• Student progress and outcomes

Designed to make life easier for Tier 2 teams, counselors, and administrators alike.

Curriculum Rebuild

We’ve rebuilt our Tier 2 small-group curriculum from the ground up. What’s changed:

• Shorter lessons to fit your schedule
• Streamlined facilitator guides (2–4 pages max)
• Stronger engagement activities
• Improved developmental fit by grade
• Consistent characters and visuals from Tier 1

Each lesson still follows a proven structure and centers on teaching practical life skills like self-regulation, coping, focus, and relationship-building.

Performance-Based & Targeted Supports

Our Tier 2 solution continues to include:

• Skill-building lessons in small groups
• Attendance supports for students missing more school
• Supports for students who can do the right thing but struggle with motivation
• Monthly live training and embedded educator learning modules

Built for Systems Like PBIS

All of our Tier 2 tools—from grouping and fidelity to progress monitoring—align seamlessly with PBIS frameworks and MTSS models.

Data & Implementation Tools: Making the Invisible Visible

Better Visibility, Less Burden

We’ve added new features to help schools and districts:

• Sync educator and student data through your SIS (e.g., Clever)
• Track lesson progress and completion in real-time
• Identify where support is needed for onboarding or fidelity
• Monitor student progress and intervention effectiveness over time

Whether you’re a site leader or district administrator, you’ll now have clear, real-time insights into what’s working and where to double down.

 Want to Learn More?

If you’re currently using CharacterStrong, many of these updates will appear in your account automatically. If you’re exploring a partnership or expanding your current implementation, we’d love to connect.

Schedule a quick call with our School Supports Team

And don’t miss our National Conference in Tacoma this July—where we’ll dive deeper into everything new and what’s next. Come meet the team and grow your practice alongside passionate educators from across the country.