New Milford district rated ‘‘high performing’’; board briefed on adaptive field test and federal grant submission

Superintendent Peter Colaso told the New Milford Board of Education that a recent county accountability review classified the New Milford Public School District as a “high performing district,” and the district is preparing for a statewide adaptive field test of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) and the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJ GPA).

Why it matters: the accountability rating, federal grant funding and a change in state testing format could affect district planning, staffing and communications with families as the district implements its 2025–26 goals, which include a revised safety and security plan, improved attendance communications and a three‑year strategic financial plan.

Colaso summarized the county review results, saying the review covered “facilities to fiscal management governance, operations, personnel, structure, and program” and that the district “came out as a high performing district.” He reported numerical subscores stated in the review, including “100% in fiscal management governance, 95% operations, 98% personnel, [and] 100% instruction and program,” and said the only noted deficiency traced to a missed submission from February 2023. Colaso said the finding reflected a team effort across central office, teachers and facilities staff.

Assistant Superintendent Lauren Haddoxa briefed the board on the state’s testing change. She said the NJSLA and NJ GPA will be administered in an “adaptive” format for a required field test. Haddoxa said the district has registered for training and that the field‑test window is October 27 through November 14; she said the state has indicated students will not receive scores from the field test and that the field test is intended to collect item‑response data for test development. Haddoxa added that the new vendor/platform and the adaptive format create uncertainty about year‑to‑year trend comparisons.

Haddoxa also told the board the district is preparing to submit the fiscal year 2026 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency (ESEA) grant, and that the application includes Title I, II, III, Title III immigrant and Title IV funds; she said the award level this year is “very much in line with last year.” Colaso and Haddoxa said district staff are analyzing spring performance data to set priorities and allocate those federal funds.

On board goals for 2025–26, Colaso read the district goals the administration recommended for board approval: (1) review and revise the district safety and security plan; (2) enhance student attendance and engagement through proactive and consistent communications with students, families and staff; and (3) develop and adopt a comprehensive three‑year strategic financial plan. The board moved to approve agenda items that included the district and board goals.

Colaso and Haddoxa noted additional academic changes: the district will pilot reinstated midterms and finals at the high school level to better prepare students for postsecondary expectations, and the district will publish a parent notification and assessment calendar for 2025–26 that includes state and local assessment windows, sample items and accommodation links.

Board members asked about comparability of an adaptive format with past NJSLA scores. Haddoxa said the platform change and adaptive algorithm make direct trend comparisons uncertain and that more guidance from the state will be required before the district can interpret magnitude changes for proficiency or graduation readiness.

The board approved motions on the agenda later in the meeting that included acceptance and submission of the FY26 ESEA grant application and adoption of the district and board goals for 2025–26.