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Gov. Jon Corzine Tuesday signed an executive order creating the "Non-Public Education Funding Commission,'' a panel that would consider the challenges and educational needs of New Jersey's 1,200 non-public school children and recommend how the state can play a role in improving their education.
"The work of this commission will be critically important in improving educational opportunities for our students and ensuring a bright future for all children throughout this state," Corzine said.
The 23-member commission will be chaired by Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D- Passaic) and Dr. George Corwell, the New Jersey Catholic Conference education director, and will include the state education commissioner, the state treasurer and the attorney general.
"The establishment of this historic commission begins the long-overdue and critical process of developing recommendations to address the disparities in educational funding across our state," Schaer said. "In creating this body, Governor Corzine has underscored his demonstrated dedication to all of New Jersey's school children. I am honored to serve with such talented colleagues who represent New Jersey's diversity and who share a deep commitment to meeting this challenge.""On behalf of the non-public school students, parents and teachers of New Jersey, we are grateful to Governor Corzine and Assemblyman Schaer for their willingness to recognize the challenges in non-public school education in New Jersey," Corwell said. "We look forward to cooperating with the Commission in every way in order to solve these significant issues for the future."
The governor's order expires June 1.
The commission's responsibilities will include reviewing ways to:
- Assist non-public schools in maximize grant-funding awards, through information and assistance regarding federal and charitable grant opportunities;
- Incentivize charitable giving to non-public schools, including whether statutory changes regarding giving would be appropriate and permissible;
- Enrich non-public school students' learning experiences through programs to acquire learning equipment, including textbooks, furniture and other equipment;
- And to most effectively utilize state and federal funds within legal boundaries; and prioritize areas for such funding, as well as recommendations regarding criteria for funding.
As his parting blow to legions of Garden State children, Jon Corzine is laying a foundation for the erosion of free schools.
There is already too much support for diverting public money to private hands, and like prisons and health care, our schools are not an appropriate vehicle for profiteering. Ronald Reagan was wrong when he said government is the problem.
In many cases, the problem is simply greed or incompetence. Before we wreck our schools, we should learn to solve the real problems and leave the rhetoric behind.