WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Peace Corps announced its partnership between its Coverdell World Wise Schools (CWWS) program and the New Jersey Department of Education today.

This is the second partnership CWWS has formed with a U. S. State Department of Education, the first of which was with Delaware in January of 2008. Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter said, "We are pleased to announce this partnership with the state of New Jersey. The partnership will allow us to share out the resources of the Coverdell World Wise Schools program, as well as the Peace Corps Volunteer experience, to infuse a variety of free cross-cultural educational materials and resources, as well as a global perspective, into the New Jersey classrooms."

New Jersey is committed to preparing students to live and work effectively in the context of the 21st century's global economy. This partnership with Peace Corps, among other initiatives of the New Jersey's Department of Education, is meant to address New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's 2007 charge to "Develop a world-class workforce by assisting the state's students…to obtain the skills and education needed in a competitive global economy." New Jersey also recently joined the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, an organization that brings together the business community, education leaders, and policymakers to define a powerful vision for 21st century education to ensure every child's success as citizens and workers in the 21st century and to help facilitate and drive change.

New Jersey's Office of Academic Standards, under the leadership of Director Janis Jensen, recognizes the importance of learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures and languages in order to advance the agenda of international education. "Preparing students for success and eventual leadership in the new global climate is undoubtedly the most important task facing New Jersey business and education stakeholders in the dawn of the twenty-first century," says Ms. Jensen.

Since 1961, more than 190,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Currently, more than 8000 Volunteers are serving abroad. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. Established in 1989 by then Peace Corps Director Paul D. Coverdell, the Coverdell World Wise Schools program provides services and materials that help U.S. schoolchildren learn about the world’s diverse peoples, cultures, geography, and global issues. These resources may be found at www.peacecorps.gov/wws.

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