ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 10

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 8, 1996

By Assemblymen COLLINS and DORIA

An Assembly Resolution establishing the Assembly Task Force on Core Curriculum.

Whereas, The Department of Education has developed a set of core curriculum content standards in eight major subject areas which it will submit to the State Board of Education for adoption; and

Whereas, These standards are designed to describe what students should learn as a result of having received a thorough and efficient education; and

Whereas, In the "Comprehensive Plan for Educational Improvement and Financing," released by the Department of Education in November, 1995, it is proposed to utilize the core curriculum content standards as the foundation of a new funding system for the public schools; and

Whereas, While moving toward the adoption of the new core curriculum content standards, the Department of Education is also recommending the review and possible revision or repeal of all existing statutory and regulatory curriculum mandates; and

Whereas, It is appropriate for the Legislature to study and review the proposed core curriculum content standards, along with the current curriculum requirements, and to evaluate their educational and financial implications; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. There is hereby established the Assembly Task Force on Core Curriculum. The task force shall have ten members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly as follows: two members of the General Assembly, who shall not be of the same political party and who shall serve as co-chairpersons; and eight teachers, each of whom shall be a former teacher of the year. The task force may appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. It shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members.

    2. It shall be the duty of the task force to study and review the core curriculum content standards as proposed by the Department of Education, along with any existing statutory and regulatory curriculum mandates, and to evaluate their educational and financial impact on the public schools of the State.

    3. a. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature and shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of officials and employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require.

    b. The task force shall further be entitled to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

    4. The task force shall issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly containing its findings, conclusions and recommendations no later than July 30, 1996.

STATEMENT

    This resolution establishes the Assembly Task Force on Core Curriculum. The task force would have ten members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, including two members of the General Assembly who would serve as co-chairpersons and eight teachers, each of whom is a former teacher of the year.

      It is the duty of the task force to study and review the core curriculum content standards as proposed by the Department of Education, along with any existing statutory and regulatory curriculum mandates, and to evaluate their educational and financial impact on the public schools of the State.

    The task force is directed to issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly containing its findings, conclusions and recommendations no later than July 30, 1996.

Establishes the Assembly Task Force on Core Curriculum.