Newark Public Schools will soon vote on whether to remain under state control.

The vote is expected to take place Sept. 13. Superintendent Christopher Cerf says he is certain that the board will vote to return the district to local control.

The state took over the schools of New Jersey’s largest city 22 years ago, citing school board incompetence and poor student test scores.

The district has since had to demonstrate that it is managed well enough to make its own decisions.

“We’ve seen great progress in Newark,” Cerf says. “Our graduation rate has gone from [about 57 percent], to this year it’s going to be over 77 percent.”

Cerf says he does acknowledge that high school absenteeism is still far too high.

Newark schools started the new school year Tuesday.