NEWARK -- The state Education Commissioner has signaled to the Newark school district it's finally ready to take full control of its schools.

The move is a pivotal step toward giving the Newark School Advisory Board the power to hire and fire its own schools chief.

In a letter to the district on Tuesday, Commissioner Kimberley Harrington said she was recommending the state Board of Education return local control after a performance review showed significant progress.

The district earned top scores in two key areas -- more than enough to trigger the transition -- according to state results released this week.

"There is substantial evidence that the district has the adequate programs, policies, and personnel to ensure that demonstrated progress is sustained," Harrington wrote in a letter Tuesday to Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf.

Harrington said the state would work with the district to develop a transition plan by the end of the year. That plan would set a date for the local board to resume its full authority. Since 1995, the state has appointed the district's superintendent who has veto power over decisions by the board.

TIMELINE: What's next for Newark schools as local control looms?

"As the transition to local control begins, it is important that those of us entrusted by the public remember that with power comes responsibility," Harrington wrote. "The people of Newark are entitled to an orderly and collaborative transition that is solely focused on the interests of its 50,000 children. It is my hope that the leaders of Newark will fully embrace this commitment."

The state board Wednesday voted to certify the QSAC scores, which Harrington called a monumental step in the district's progress.

A vote to return local control is expected as early as the board's September meeting, President Arcelio Aponte said.

"It's a particularly proud moment for me, as a son of the city of Newark and the public school system of Newark, to be in a position that returns local control," said Aponte, who graduated from Eastside High School.

How does a state take over a school district?

The Quality Single Accountability System (QSAC), which is the state's way of monitoring schools, gives the state the power to take over a district. It measures a district's performance in five areas: instruction and program; personnel; fiscal management; operations; and governance.

The state took over the district more than 20 years ago, striving to fix a system it said was mired by corruption, crumbling facilities and low-performing students.

How does a district regain control?

Over time the state has returned control of fiscal management, personnel and operations to the board. The district must earn above an 80 percent in its QSAC review in each area to regain control of it.

This May, the state reviewed the areas of governance (which allows the board to hire a superintendent) and instruction and program. The district earned a 92 percent in instruction and program and a 100 percent in governance, according to results released by the state this week.

Cerf said he was "delighted" the district had exceeded the QSAC threshold in all areas. "We look forward to working with the State Board of Education, the Commissioner and our local school board to continue this momentum, and to meet the necessary benchmarks to officially secure full local control for the Newark community," he said in a statement.

The state board formally accepted the scores on Wednesday, and a vote to return local control is expected as early as the board's September meeting, President Arcelio Aponte said.

"It's a particularly proud moment for me, as a son of the city of Newark and the public school system of Newark, to be in position to sign the resolution that returns local control," said Aponte, who graduated from Eastside High School.

What is the timeline for picking a new superintendent?

After the state board vote, the commissioner will work in collaboration with the district to compile a transition plan by the end of 2017. The commissioner will then present the plan to the local school board.

At that point, the school board will shed is "advisory" title and receive official control of its 36,000-student district.

It's not clear what the transition plan will say but it will likely outline the process for selecting a new superintendent and expectations for the local board.

"I can guarantee that will be a community decision, that it will not a board decision, not a mayor decision on how we want to select the next superintendent of Newark public schools," School Advisory Board Chair Marques-Aquil Lewis previously told NJ Advance Media.

Cerf's $255,500 three-year contract expires June 30, 2018 but allows for changes during the transition to local control.

What will happen to the school board?

The district will have to schedule a referendum to decide how to structure its board. The public will vote on whether they want to elect their board or have the mayor appoint every member.

"I can say I have been impressed with the seriousness of purpose that this new board has shown in continuing the work and improving on and refining the work," Cerf previously told NJ Advance Media of the nine-member board. "I anticipate a smooth transition and continued progress."

He said over the last few years the district has improved its scores on the state standardized exam known as PARCC, increased its retention rate of effective and highly effective teachers to 96 percent, submitted a balanced budget and sold closed school buildings to plug the deficit.

But Cerf cautioned that local control does not mean the board will be in charge of the day-to-day management of the schools, such as hiring principals. The district's success, he said, also depends on "having [the] board understand the role of a board: That is not to run a district" but rather set its goals.

"The future success of the work is going to assume a certain level of continuity," Cerf said.

Editor's Note: This post has been updated to reflect a state board vote Wednesday.

Staff reporter Adam Clark contributed to this report.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.