The Top Education Stories in Newark in 2013

Superintendent of Schools Cami Anderson was slated to receive a $50,000 performance bonus, drawing criticism from some who felt the state-appointed Anderson has not done enough to improve the city’s challenged schools. But others felt Anderson has had a positive impact since taking the helm of the state’s largest district a few years ago.

A portion of the $100 million bestowed by Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg to the city’s public schools a few years ago will be used for “leadership grants,” a city foundation said.

Hundreds of Newark Public School students walked out of class and rallied downtown where officials were meeting to discuss the school budget. The youths --- along with other groups rallying in solidarity -- were protesting proposed cuts to the budget.

Officials announced the opening of an all-girls charter school, the first of its kind in Newark in a generation and the only all-girls public school in the state.  

An appeals court ruled that “governance” of the Newark Public Schools should remain in state hands, meaning that officials in Trenton and not the locally elected schools advisory board would continue to appoint the district’s superintendent, while the superintendent would also retain veto power over most board decisions. The schools advisory board would, however, gain additional control over some aspects of district management. Local and state officials were working out the details of that arrangement as the year was drawing to a close.