The dropout rate in America has become a national concern. There are many findings that indicate what the problems are, from issues with early schooling preparation, truancy, economic needs and even boredom.

NCEF Innovative Comprehensive Program Design
The NCEF has developed a 14-year educational initiative designed to introduce age-appropriate character curriculum from Pre-K to 12th grade.

The program has two primary goals: to educate students to the benefits of good character, and to reduce the academic gaps that can prevent students from graduating.

Statement of Significance
We believe we can reduce all the additional research findings that support why students dropout through a natural progression of character development and academic enhancement. The program is designed to reduce social and emotional distress that often distracts students from applying themselves to learning at their required grade level.

Problem Statement
Studies have shown that academic learning gaps begin to develop at the elementary level and when left unchecked increases with each new grade level that prohibits students from achieving at that required level.

Step 1
Diagnostic Teaching Approach for Educators
This program is designed to assist educators at all levels to periodically detect learning gaps within individual students and groups.

The program concept is to intercede before the educational gaps become too wide a margin for students to overcome.

Step 2
Pre-K -5th Grade
Our research has shown in the elementary grade levels Pre-K through 5 that the students who participated in the NCEF's Award Winning "Caring Habits" Curriculum had measurable increases in key behavioral and academic developmental areas:
• 18.5% Increase in school Honor Roll
• 22.5% decrease in detentions and suspensions
• State Standardized Science scores increased by 1.9 years
• State Standardized Math scores increased by 1.6 years

The final results showed these students had less behavioral and academic gaps as they entered Middle School.

Step 3
6th-8th Grade
The NCEF middle school curriculum for students from 6-8 grades. "Eureka", is designed to provide students a continual pattern of character development with a strong focus on academic enhancement.

The program success is achieved through its structured goal-setting initiative designed to maximize and promote student self-regulation and goal accomplishment.

The final results showed these students had less behavioral and academic gaps as they entered high school and were less likely to drop out.

Step 4
9th-12th Grade
To meet academic and behavioral needs of students entering grades 9-12 the NCEF has developed "Students for Good Character" curriculum.
This curriculum is a continual program designed to involve students in a character activity that simultaneously helps to develop students in accordance with state standardized academic requirements and SAT writing requirements preparing students for the challenges of entering college and or the workforce.