Communities of Excellence
Living the 8 Keys
Changing the lives of students everywhere
Program
Communities of Excellence – Living the 8 Keys
is a yearlong comprehensive character-development program
for students and educators
that focuses on principles that support excellence
in individuals and in the community.
The 8 Keys of Excellence
Integrity, Failure Leads to Success, Speak with Good Purpose,
This Is It!, Commitment, Ownership, Flexibility, Balance
Program Highlights

Engaging yearlong curriculum that connects to students
(Elementary/Junior and Senior versions)
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Website with valuable information and guidelines including: video
training, scripted lessons that feature Quantum Learning delivery
strategies, learning activities, daily quotes, student journals, 8 Keys
Growth Gauge, message board for teachers to share ideas, and much
more
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Key ring and 8 KeyCards for every student
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8 Keys poster and The 8 Keys of Excellence book for each classroom

“How to Create Meaningful 8 Keys Personal Stories” for teachers and
invited community leaders
8 KeyCards and Poster
Program Website
Home Page
Program Overview, PowerPoints
8 Keys of Excellence
How to Get Involved
News, Videos
Teacher (password protected)
How-to support, Videos, Online training
Introductory Lesson, 8 Keys Lessons
All About (each Key)
Quotes of the day
Journals, 8 Keys Growth Gauge
Message Board for sharing ideas
Student (teacher/CoE managed)
Blog, Videos, Photos
News, Stories
Key of the Month
Partners (password protected)
News, ebooks, Defining Excellence
www.CommunitiesOfExcellence.org
Program Timeline
August / September – Start of program
• Three-hour online workshop to educate teachers on the impact
of the 8 Keys of Excellence and to provide guidelines for
implementation of the program in their classrooms (video from
training by a lead Quantum Learning facilitator at the QLN
Conference Center in Oceanside, California)
• Introductory lesson for teachers use in launching the program
with their students. Includes an overview of the Communities
of Excellence program and value of the 8 Keys of Excellence.
Program Timeline (continued)
September to April – Teachers focus on one Key per
month
•
Initial Key Lesson includes a Key Story, definition/description,
activity, journal page, 8 Keys Growth Gauge, and giving
students KeyCards.
•
Teachers integrate the Key into their curriculum and reinforce
the principle throughout the month.
•
A host of additional suggestions are included such as 8 Keys
announcements, skits in assemblies, 8 Keys awards, and
inviting community leaders to share Personal Key Stories with
students.
May – Reinforcement and celebration event
(CoE School Surveys are completed at start of program, mid-year and end of year)
Goals and Outcomes
Create a socially aware, capable, responsible, and
caring community of young people
Inspire and empower students to make positive
choices and become productive members of society
Unite educators, local businesses, organizations,
government officials, and parents in support of our
students
Long-lasting Impact
“On the 26-hour flight over …
my train of thought took me to
thoughts about responsibility …
and the 8 Keys.”
1st Lt. Brian J. Seidl, from Iraq
(learned 8 Keys at SuperCamp when in high school)
Implementation in Schools
Thousands of schools are using the 8 Keys of
Excellence with remarkable results through Quantum
Learning programs.
The 8 Keys of Excellence are licensed to Learning
Forum International by Quantum Learning Network for
use in the Communities of Excellence – Living the 8
Keys program.
Documented Results
Alamo Heights Independent School District
San Antonio, Texas
“I would say unequivocally, teachers, community members, and
students are very excited about the implementation of the 8 Keys
of Excellence. The effort has had a very positive impact on
morale, behavior and character education efforts at the
elementary schools. Many teachers and parents continue to let
me know how the language of the Keys is evident, not only
throughout the school, but throughout the community as well."
—Dan St. Romain, teacher and
consultant
Documented Results
O’Plaine Intermediate School (grades 3-5)
Gurnee, Illinois
•
•
Results tracked: continuing drops in zero-tolerance behavior:
6% first year, 12% second year, and 19% third year.
(Note: zero-tolerance behaviors are severe types of negative
behavior that warrant a “trip to the Principal’s office.”)
Statistically significant: common language affected the entire
process of school behaviors
—8 Keys of Excellence implemented by co-principals
Doug Schultze and Dr. Jenny Severson
over a three-year period
Documented Results
Thornton Township High School District
South Holland, Illinois
• Following a 22-day summer school program focused on the 8
Keys of Excellence, a 1998 study of ninth graders performing
below grade level showed a 37% reduction in absenteeism,
66% reported better behavior, and 60% followed class rules
more often.
Note: Student population 2,047; 37% low income, 83% AfricanAmerican, 13% Caucasian, 4% other
Possible Funding Sources
CoE is easy to fund
The Communities of Excellence program is easily scalable and
replicable with an affordable cost of $10 per student per year.
Your school can secure funding from several
sources
•
•
•
•
•
•
Individual donations
School budget
PTA fund-raising
Parents pay
Corporate “Adopt a School” donations
(download donation form at website)
Foundation grants
(download Grant Request template at website)
Communities of Excellence
Living the 8 Keys
Learning Forum International (LFI) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit
educational corporation, based in Oceanside, California, since
1989.
LFI’s mission is Making Great Kids Greater. We achieve this by
supporting student and educator programs that contribute to the
mastery of learning and life skills by today’s youth, leading to
their academic and personal success.
Learning Forum International
760-305-7317
Bobbi DePorter, President
www.learningforum.org
www.communitiesofexcellence.org
Board of Directors
Learning Forum International
Bobbi DePorter
Quantum Learning Network, President
Joe Chapon
Quantum Learning Network, Vice President & Secretary/Treasurer
Denise DeMan-Williams
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Bench International
Steve Curtis
Insight Consulting, Partner
Steven Snyder
BestQuest Teaching Systems, Partner
Tom Holmquist
BAE Systems, Director of Accounting