Too often our nation's schools build vocabulary but not character... in a TIME article, Jon Schnur asks, "Can we teach our kids to be good citizens?"

Over dinner this weekend, I listened to public school parents echo an increasingly common refrain. An active mom was disappointed that her child’s school hadn’t been more responsive to her efforts encouraging the teaching of good character. Her husband noted that the school occasionally takes a week to focus on themes like “respect others” — but added that a one-week project feels good without leaving a lasting impact.

Such concerns are fueling a new push in education to not just focus on academic achievement but help students develop character and prepare for active citizenship. Turning this effort into a movement was the primary goal of a recent gathering I joined — convened by former Clinton White House official and author Eric Liu — of educators, scholars and non-profit executives. The nascent movement’s unlikely mix of leaders and advocates include former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’ Connor, parents from all socio-economic backgrounds and academic researchers.

Done well, this movement will strengthen and balance important academic achievement initiatives by empowering students with additional qualities including working hard, sticking with it, respecting others and finding solutions during conflict. The movement has two big ideas — grounded in important new research and old-fashioned American values. The first is that public schools and parents should work together to develop specific character strengths that maximize his or her future success. The second is that schools should help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become active participants in American democracy. At their best, these two big ideas get blended — defining and developing character includes community-oriented strengths like teamwork.

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