Troubled school system in NJ’s biggest city to receive $100M donation from Facebook founder

Newark, NJ, schools to receive Facebook donation

NEWARK, N.J. — The public school system in New Jersey’s largest city is poised to receive $100 million from the founder of Facebook.

Democratic Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are expected to announce the donation Friday on Oprah Winfrey’s Chicago-based syndicated television show.

Several media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Newark’s The Star-Ledger reported the donation Wednesday night. They say Booker will gain some control over the troubled school system, which is run by the state and has some of its lowest test scores and poorest graduation rates.

Christie opted last month not to rehire Newark’s schools superintendent. A search for a successor is under way.

Facebook is based in Palo Alto, Calif.