Jersey City will regain local control of its schools as early as the end of the school year.

“Slowly over the last three decades – and more quickly, over the last three years – we have rebuilt ‘our academic credit,” Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement. “And we’ve done it one student at a time, one class at a time, one cap and one gown at a time.” 

Jersey City Public Schools have been run by the state since 1989. At the time, Judge Kenneth Springer ruled "patronage and nepotism ran rampant" in the district, and that there was an attitude that “urban children are inherently unruly or disinterested in education.”

An assessment by the state Board of Education determined Wednesday that Jersey City is ready to regain full control of its school system. The district has already reclaimed authority of its governance, personnel, fiscal and operations management. The last category is instruction and programming.

Education Commissioner David Hespe says the transition plan will ensure the abuses that led to the state takeover don't reoccur.

“This has been a long time coming,” Commissioner Hespe said in a statement. “But we’re seeing the kind of success, particularly under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Marcia Lyles, that is pointing toward a new beginning for the community.”

Newark, Paterson and Camden schools are also under state-control.  

“We hope that in 2016, like Jersey City, we will be able to celebrate the return of local control of Newark Public Schools to the citizens of Newark," said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.