State of New Jersey
Executive Order #22

Governor James J. Florio

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 State of New Jersey 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 State of New Jersey, 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 State of New Jersey, 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