TRENTON -- The state's takeover of Jersey City Public Schools is coming to an end nearly 30 years after the city's school district was deemed a "total educational failure."

The state Board of Education on Wednesday voted to grant the district local control over its instruction and programming, the final administrative category under supervision from the state. The district and state will now develop a transition plan for Jersey City to emerge from state intervention.

"This is truly a historic day," said Arcelio Aponte, president of the state board. "The path ahead will certainly be a promising path, a hopeful path for the children of Jersey City."

The state took over Jersey City's school district in 1989 after education officials said the city's schools were failing and hurting students. It was the first school system taken over by New Jersey's state government, which later took control of Newark, Paterson and Camden schools for similar troubles.

Jersey City slowly regained local authority over other aspects of its district beginning a decade ago, according to state officials. It earned control over personnel in 2015, the second-to-last step in the process.

Mayor Steven Fulop called Wednesday's vote independent validation of the district's progress. Still, the district must continue improving, Superintendent Marcia Lyles said.

"We have only just begun," Lyles said. "Today's action acknowledges that hard work and signals that we are on the right path," Lyles said in a statement released by the district.

Jersey City is the first of the state-controlled districts to regain full local control. The state board might vote on returning local control to Newark Public Schools later this year, Aponte said.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.