This executive order rescinded by EO #6 McGreevey.

WHEREAS, there is general agreement that educational improvement in the State's most disadvantaged urban communities is vital to the future of the children who live there, the future of those communities and the future of all New Jerseyans; and

WHEREAS, the three branches of State government have worked diligently for many decades in an attempt to ensure meaningful educational reform in our urban school districts; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of New Jersey has ordered certain actions to ensure that the constitutional guarantee of a "thorough and efficient" education be undertaken by the State and local school districts, including whole school reform, early childhood education programs and school facilities improvement; and

WHEREAS, the provision of meaningful educational opportunities in our urban communities requires that the public have confidence in the programs being established and that tax dollars are being used effectively; and

WHEREAS, the provision of meaningful educational opportunities in our urban communities requires the policy and operational articulation of various governmental agencies at the State and local level; and

WHEREAS, the provision of meaningful educational opportunities in our urban districts will best be provided through a coordinated statewide effort that brings together individuals and organizations from all parts of the State, with varied backgrounds and areas of expertise to focus on achieving common goals and objectives;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, 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 in, but not of, the Department of Education the Abbott Implementation Advisory Council (Council).

2. The Council shall consist of seventeen (17) members as follows:

(a) The Commissioner of Education, or a designee, shall serve ex- officio;

(b) The Commissioner of Human Services, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;

(c) The Attorney General, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;

(d) The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;

(e) Nine (9) public members, who may be chosen from among local government officials, business and community leaders, the education community and advocates of education and children, shall be appointed as follows to serve a two-year term: seven (7) members shall be directly appointed by the Governor; one (1) member shall be directly appointed by the President of the Senate; and one (1) member shall be directly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and

(f) Four (4) members of the Legislature shall be appointed as follows: two (2) members, one from each political party, shall be appointed by the President of the Senate to serve during the two-year legislative session in which the appointment is made; and two (2) members, one from each political party, shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly to serve during the two-year legislative session in which the appointment is made.

3. The Council shall organize and meet as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members, but in no event later than July 1, 2000. A chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be appointed by the Governor. Each member shall hold office for the term of appointment and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring on the Council for any reason other than the expiration of the term shall have a term of appointment for the unexpired term only. A member may be appointed for any number of successive terms. The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members.

4. The Council shall:

(a) Review and evaluate urban educational reform efforts at the State and local level and relevant research, and recommend policy and operational changes to achieve more meaningful urban educational reform;

(b) Monitor and evaluate urban educational reform activities at the State and local level, and recommend changes in implementation strategies; and

(c) Assess the degree of coordination of governmental services, higher education and related community services in achieving urban educational reform, and recommend ways to improve such coordination.

5. The Governor shall designate an executive director for the Council who shall not be a Council member. The executive director shall be responsible for all administrative activities of the Council.

6. The Council is authorized to call upon any department, office or agency of State government to provide such information, resources or other assistance deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order. Each department, officer, division and agency of this State is hereby required to cooperate with the Council and to furnish it with such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

7. The Council is authorized to utilize any and all outside resources, including consultants and experts, deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order.

8. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal,
this 1st day of May in the Year of
Our Lord, Two Thousand, and of
the Independence of the United
States, Two Hundred and Twenty-Four.

/s/ Christine Todd Whitman
Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Richard S. Mroz
Chief Counsel to the Governor