Newark public schools to remain under state control indefinitely despite improvements
Published: Saturday, July 16, 2011, 6:36 PM Updated: Saturday, July 16, 2011, 6:36 PM
NEWARK — The Newark Public schools, which have been under state control for the past 16 years, will remain that way indefinitely despite significant improvements over the past 15 months, according to the results of a recent review.
Under state law, the Department of Education reviews all districts every three years in five performance categories, including academic achievement and school board governance.
For the first time, Newark scored above 80 percent in four of the five categories, a threshold that could have triggered the state to allow tens of thousands of Newark parents to elect board members with authority to run the city’s schools. The state now has final say over nearly all decisions the board makes.
Newark and Paterson are the only districts statewide with advisory school boards.
In a letter to Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson obtained by The Star-Ledger, acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said one round of high marks on the state review is not enough to