State Giving Fiscal Control Back to Newark Schools

Newark's advisory school board will soon get back authority over its fiscal operations and will begin voting on district contracts after 18 years of state control.

The Star-Ledger reports that the news came during a court hearing Tuesday.

Assistant Attorney General Michael Walters said that in the next 30 days, state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf will issue a letter to the city school board with details on the transition.

The hearing involved a lawsuit filed by parents after the state refused to return local control in areas where the district had shown success. The district, which has about 40,000 students, was taken over by the state in 1995.

Besides Newark, the Paterson, Jersey City and Camden school districts are also under state control.

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