Date Posted: April 24, 2009

The assistant Commissioner cited Dr. Fergus's expertise and commitment to improving educational opportunities and academic achievement for all students resulting in his appointment.

The advisory council will focus on substantive issues affecting equal opportunity and fairness in schools, use current research and identify effective educational practices to develop recommendations to enhance department policies and program development.. more specifically, the primary purpose of the COEED will be to assist the department to:

• Review current policies and regulations governing educational equity and diversity;
• Identify promising practices and proven strategies aimed at increasing diversity and equity; and
• Propose amendments to the existing standards found at N.J.A.C. 6A:7, “Management for Equality and Equity in Education," to assure that all students have equal opportunity to perform at the highest level.