Vinny Gagliastro, Vernon Township School District director of curriculum and instruction, presented the district's 2025 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) results to the Vernon Township Board of Education on Oct. 16, saying the results show substantial growth in early grades but persistent gaps in upper elementary and among some student groups.

"So tonight's presentation is about more than scores. It's about student growth," Gagliastro told the board as he reviewed ELA, mathematics and science performance across grade bands. Dr. Hallease Shep, the district's supervisor of STEM K'12, joined Gagliastro for the presentation and the board discussion.

The presentation highlighted several district-level findings. Third grade emerged as a strong performing grade: Gagliastro reported that third grade math proficiency rose from 37.5% in 2023 to 57.4% in 2025. District staff credited that gain to an 80-minute instructional block in third grade, dedicated interventionists, coaching and frequent data cycles (I-Ready) used to organize small-group instruction.

Staff warned that the momentum in grade 3 does not yet consistently continue into grades 4 and 5. Presentation slides and remarks noted a reduction in instructional minutes (from 80 minutes in grade 3 to 60 minutes in grades 4 and 5) and less consistent coverage by interventionists and "WIN" (What I Need) periods in upper elementary, which the presenters said correspond to the observed performance dip.

In ELA, the district reported steady gains in several cohorts: grade 7 was cited at 62.8% proficiency, a roughly 12-point gain since 2023. At the secondary level, grade 9 also posted notable gains. Still, staff emphasized a sizable group of students sitting "just below proficiency," and said targeted small-group instruction and expanded tiered supports are priorities to shift those students into proficiency.

The algebra and grade 8 math results drew a contrast. Gagliastro said students assessed in Algebra I in grade 8 performed well: 51.7% met or exceeded expectations, about 14 percentage points above the state level for that assessment. By contrast, the grade 8 general math cohort met expectations at 4.3%, versus 20.7% statewide, a difference staff attributed to curriculum and placement alignment rather than student capacity.

"Grade 3 math proficiency has increased by more than 53%, rising from 37.5 in 2023 to 57.4 this past spring," Gagliastro said, summarizing the district's most dramatic gains and tying them to the model of extended instructional time and coaching in lower elementary.

Presenters noted subgroup patterns: some student groups have small counts (making percentages sensitive to individual student results), while gaps remained for students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students in upper elementary and middle grades. The district said it will continue using I-Ready diagnostics, coaching cycles, and prioritized small-group instruction to address those gaps.

As a next step, staff told the board they plan a preschool-through-12 multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) needs assessment with assistance from the American Institutes for Research; the presenter said that work is connected to an "ARR partnership" that would require board approval. The district also described the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment for students with individualized education programs as part of its assessment suite.

Before the formal presentation, the board recognized 16 Vernon Township students who earned perfect scores on NJSLA sections; district staff listed the names and grades of those students during the meeting. The recognition occurred prior to the data presentation and was described by staff as separate from the board discussion of performance trends.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to enter closed session to discuss legal, personnel and student matters: motion made and seconded; board approved (vote not specified in the record).

- Motion to return to open session: motion made and seconded; board approved (vote not specified in the record).

- Approval of minutes (closed and public session minutes of Sept. 18, 2025): motion approved. Recorded roll-call statements in the meeting transcript include: Mr. Fisher (Aye); Mr. Krauss (Yes); Miss Pellet (Yes); Dr. Ross (Abstain); Mr. Sweeney (Abstain from item a; Yes for item b); Miss Ciccarolo (Yes); Mr. Zimmerman (Yes); Mr. Cimacoglio (Yes). The motion carried.

What the board will do next

District staff recommended continuing the instructional strategies that appear to be working in lower elementary while expanding structured intervention and consistent interventionist coverage in grades 4 and 5. The MTSS needs assessment and the ARR partnership were presented as near-term priorities to guide systemwide changes if the board approves the partnership and related actions.

The presentation and the discussion were framed as data-informed steps rather than immediate policy changes; board members did not adopt new districtwide policy during the presentation portion of the meeting.