McGreevey Creates Education Commission
In an effort
to ensure New Jersey families’ hard-earned
dollars are being used to provide their children
with a quality education, Governor James E.
McGreevey today signed an Executive Order creating
the Education Mandate Review Study Commission.
The Commission will be tasked with evaluating
and identifying State mandates that are wasteful
and inefficient, and recommending changes or
eliminations of the bureaucracy, so more dollars
are going towards improving education.
“We know what works to improve education—targeting early literacy, improving teacher quality and building safe, modern, un-crowded classrooms,” said Governor McGreevey. “We
cannot have valuable education dollars going
towards needless bureaucratic paperwork instead
of effective programs that prepare our children
to compete in the 21st century.
“In this difficult economy, our districts should not have to spend money complying with State mandates that don’t
improve education. With the creation of this
Commission, we will not only ensure that all
of our education dollars are going towards
programs that work, we will keep our educators
spending time on our children not on paperwork,
and ultimately we will also be helping to provide
meaningful property tax relief.”
Legislation to create this Commission, S-2421, sponsored by Senator John Adler, passed the New Jersey State Senate unanimously (38-0) on June 23, 2003, but did not come before the Assembly prior to adjournment in early July 2003. However, both Governor McGreevey and Senator Adler agreed it was important to move forward with the creation of the Commission so a study could be completed by January 2004, and changes could be implemented as soon as possible. The Commission will hold its first meeting over the next two weeks.
“The Governor should be commended for moving the process forward to benefit property taxpayers and to ensure quality education,” said Senator Adler. “Government
efficiencies can save millions of dollars for
property taxpayers without jeopardizing the
learning environment for our children.”
The Commission shall consist of the Commissioner of Education, or his designee, and twelve public members appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall appoint the chair of the Commission.#
