New Jersey State Education Commissioner David Hespe invites parents to a special videoconference from 7-8:15 p.m. Jan. 30. The statewide program will be held locally at the Monmouth-Ocean Education Services Commission (ESC) at 100 Tornillo Way, Tinton Falls.

The videoconference will provide parents with information about the Families Achieving the New Standards (FANS) project in math, science and technology; and Gaining Achievement in the New Standards (GAINS) in world languages and language arts literacy.

Hespe said, "We began this outreach effort in November with the launching of a special parents’ program on our Web site called the Parents’ Circle. We need to enlist parents as full participants in their children’s education."

He continued, "Parents need to understand that standards are not important in the abstract; they are important because they guide parents and educators in knowing what knowledge and skills to teach our children to help them succeed in school and in life."

Representatives from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Rutgers University will be present at the conference to offer information to parents on FANS and GAINS, as well as how to gain access to the workshops and materials being developed to guide parents in understanding the standards.

For more information on the videoconference, call Ilse Whisner at Monmouth-Ocean ESC at (732) 389-5555, ext. 1062.