EDlection2018: Newark Voters Decide on Elected, Not Appointed, Board to Oversee Schools Now Returned to Local Control

EDlection2018: This is one of several dozen races we’ve analyzed for the 2018 midterms that could go on to influence state or federal education policy. Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox; sign up for The 74 Newsletter.

Nine months after New Jersey returned control of schools in the state’s largest district to the Newark school board, residents decided against mayoral control over the school system in favor of an elected board.

During the 22 years state officials had control over the district, the nine-member board had only advisory powers. New Jersey law mandates that when a district is returned to local control, voters must choose whether to elect a board directly or to ask the mayor to oversee the schools — a governance model used in a number of urban districts.

Read what you #needtoknownewark about tomorrow’s school board election question: elected vs. mayor-appointed board. https://t.co/ILnJNsTFQF pic.twitter.com/Hz8F6MtoAg

— City of Newark (@CityofNewarkNJ) November 5, 2018

Three-fourths of Newark voters chose an elected board, according to NJ.com.

Voters in Paterson and Camden also chose to elect their boards directly going forward.

EDlection2018: This is one of several dozen races we’ve analyzed for the 2018 midterms that could go on to influence state or federal education policy. Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox; sign up for The 74 Newsletter.

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