It’s like the state is saying: ‘We don’t have to have a relationship with you; we’ll just tell you what to do. Here’s your spoonful of oatmeal; take it, and like it.’

Deniqua Matias, an assistant preschool director for Newark, N.J., schools, which have been under the state's control since 1995. Recently, there's been a push to return the schools to local control because of low test scores, crumbling buildings and charges of mismanagement.