Christie: Newark's schools to be returned to local control

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Newark's schools will be returned to local control next week after more than two decades under state supervision.

Christie said Wednesday that the state Board of Education is expected to vote next week to return control over Newark's schools to the city.

The state took over Newark's school district in the mid-1990s, citing years of mismanagement, chronically low test scores and crumbling infrastructure.

Christie says the city's schools have come a long way and cited the $100 million donation to Newark for education made in 2010 by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The district serves approximately 40,000 students.