After more than twenty years of state control, the Newark Public Schools will be restored to local control.
A Newark school board, elected by the public, will have the power to hire and fire its own superintendent.
Chris Cerf, who previously was state superintendent in New Jersey, will be the Newark superintendent until his contract expires in 2018.
This article, from the twentieth year of state control, has some interesting before and after statistics. Enrollment is down, test scores and graduation rates are up, the district enrollment is more Hispanic than it was in 1995. There has been quite a lot of turnover in leadership of the district. Some things are certainly better, by the numbers.
I will wait to hear more from our friends in New Jersey about the changes. Was it Chris Christie? Chris Cerf? Cami Anderson? Mark Zuckerberg? Money? Charter schools? All of the above? None of the above?
Congratulations to the people of Newark on regaining control of your community public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I hope the good people of the city realize that with opportunity comes responsibility. They need to choose leaders wisely to avoid the type of corruption the city is known for. They also need to show up to vote for the type of governor they want to see lead the state in the coming years. They need to vote for a candidate that is willing to work on a fair funding formula for city schools. Gentrification has already begun in the area of Newark near the train station. The city needs an honest and clever leader to manage all the changes that are occurring, and someone that wants to work for all the people of the city. The key to success in Newark is to be inclusive. The best agent of inclusion is strong, fairly funded public education that provides opportunity for all.
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AGREE, retired teacher. Again your comments are right on.
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WOW, Diane. Good news! THANK YOU.
You are a GREAT.
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This is indeed a great moment for Newark (and local control was recently returned to Jersey City, too), but the real work is still ahead: the referendum to see whether Newark will have a freely and democratically elected school board like almost every other district in the country, or the sham democracy of mayoral control. I hope Newarkers choose wisely.
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They got the keys to the house back, but now they have to get inside and clean up the mess the corporate squatters made which is no small thing. Those same squatters will be looking to misrepresent every single misstep or issue that occurs during that process, no matter how small or irrelevant, especially if it is due to the damage the squatters left behind.
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It really is a former of apartheid – state control or mayoral control – top down, delusions of power. True education is hard work, professionalism, and compassion.
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Right. State control or mayoral control are both forms of magical thinking. Put a non-educator in charge. Give him or her unlimited control. How does that improve schools?
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form
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