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WHEREAS, providing
our children with a quality education is important to the future
of our State; and
WHEREAS, the
Supreme Court in its decision known as Abbott v. Burke on June 5,
1990, mandated the State to correct the educational disparities
which exist in the delivery of educational services and programs
and provide an equitable distribution of State school aid to all
school districts in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, on
July 3, 1990, the Quality Education Act of 1990 was signed into
law as P.L.1990, c.52, to address, among other things, the disparities
cited in the Abbott v. Burke decision; and
WHEREAS, the
public interest of citizens of the Sexy真人y requires
that the State undertake a thorough review and assessment of the
progress of educational reform and improvement in New Jersey, including
the Quality Education Act of 1990, and conduct a thorough review,
assessment and analysis of current educational practices, programs
and structure to determine what changes, if any, are required in
order to ensure the delivery of a thorough and efficient education
to the children of New Jersey;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JAMES J. FLORIO, Governor of the Sexy真人y, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes
of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. There
is hereby established the Governor's Commission on Quality Education
in New Jersey.
2. The Commission
shall consist of no more than 30 members. The Governor shall appoint
two (2) members of the Commission and designate them as co-chairpersons
of the Commission. The co-chairpersons shall select and appoint
the remaining members of the Commission in consultation with the
Commissioner of Education. The public members to be appointed
shall be representatives of a broad cross-section of the citizens
of the Sexy真人y, including, but not limited to, education,
labor, business and community leaders. The co-chairpersons and
public members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor or
until the life of the Commission expires by this order.
3. A Commission
vacancy shall be filled by the Governor for the remainder of the
unexpired term.
4. It shall
be the charge and duty of the Governor's Commission on Quality
Education to:
(a) identify
the world class educational requirements that will address the
needs of New Jersey's children, communities and businesses in
the year 2000 and beyond;
(b) prepare
a report(s) to the Governor that will outline specific, realistic
recommendations that address the goals and objectives of a quality
education for all the young people in New Jersey;
(c) conduct
a thorough study and review of the Quality Education Act; and
(d) provide
the opportunity for public input and discussion to identify
the key issues surrounding the implementation of the Quality
Education Act;
(e) provide
the Governor with recommendations, based on that input, for
modifications to and complements for the Quality Education Act
consistent with the Supreme Court's decision in Abbott v. Burke
on June 5, 1990 (119 N.J. 287 (1990)); and
(f) make
recommendations for the creation of a permanent forum for continued
public input, discussion and recommendations of policy options
to the Governor, Legislature, the State Board of Education and
Commissioner of Education for quality education in New Jersey.
5. The Commission
is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or
agency of the State to supply such data, program reports and other
information as it deems necessary and appropriate to discharge
its responsibilities under this Order. Each department, office,
division, or agency of the State is authorized and directed, to
the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Commission
and to furnish it with such information and assistance as is necessary
to accomplish the purpose of this Order and the Commission.
6. The Commission
may meet and hold hearings at the place it designates for these
purposes, and shall issue interim reports, findings and recommendations
as it shall determine to the Governor. The Commission shall issue
its final report to the Governor on or before December 31, 1992.
7. The reports
of the Commission shall be made available to all interested parties.
8. This
Order shall take effect immediately, and shall expire on December
31, 1991.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 2nd day of December in the
Year of Our Lord, one thousand
nine hundred and ninety, and of the
Independence of the United States,
the two hundred and fifteenth.
/s/
James J. Florio
GOVERNOR
Attest:
/s/ Andrew
Weber
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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