[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6638380,"mediaKeyId","2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f","parentId",2571899,"title","Ocean Township presents data-driven early literacy work; officials cite gains in K–3 benchmarks","audioSeconds",1163,"startMs",474000,"endMs",1637000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f&start=474&end=1637","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f/thumbnail_474000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6638380/New-Jersey/Ocean-Township-presents-data-driven-early-literacy-work-officials-cite-gains-in-K3-benchmarks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638380-17755ad0364c4cc88692f8ffc62cc943/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061462&Signature=n5gZLL5b4yTLmoLT4OcNSdBaFuSolA98K~8eHN8W2LUTBb7uwgDhIIxe7yNI5Yi7y6gz0nfPl-Axi-wCNUfoWctSeWWlsbnaTzQXNPw1dRbIp8KR8j2Nvn62-FmREzSD~mAn0c2ZCvFCJ3d0~QzCtNts5rsP-cuNimwlZDpOlwNUBp~V1B54-PKhOXumeeRxbN6KujLC5dkfLbIUCOI5ArHF4gYOkll~8NsNGfPm1xuZJyT1Z8FyaM6wd5sQwtV9YgH~gBpUVF4l7lPZMai-HbHRpNFbEl1iF~nKDqj1PU2o7BuoJIyYtc5yteIqsbT3buZKzrpeDFShfg5PQotHGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Township of Ocean School District","date","2025-03-12T15:13:04.047Z","article","Michelle Shapiro, the district staff member who supervises early-literacy instruction in the Township of Ocean School District, told the Board of Education that the district has combined its adopted core curriculum with multisensory approaches, universal screening and coaching to improve early-reading outcomes.

Shapiro said the district adopted the McGraw Hill WONDERS literacy program in 2016–17 and layered multisensory training based on IMSE Orton-Gillingham methods for K–3 teachers. She said the district uses DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) as a universal screener and stores assessment results in the LinkIt platform to guide instruction and interventions.

The presentation summarized years of work with Rutgers and the New Jersey Department of Education on tiered reading supports and a Data Driven Instructional Coaching Model (DDICM) grant. Shapiro said those partnerships provided assessment protocols, coaching structures and targeted intervention routines used by school-based coaches and interventionists.

Shapiro presented benchmark data showing improvement since pre-pandemic measures: kindergarten winter benchmark performance reported rising from about 41.1% at or above benchmark in winter 2019–20 to roughly 60% in the most recent winter, with average letter-sound scores moving from 24 to 32. First-grade results improved from about 45.8% to 74.3% at or above benchmark; second-grade benchmark rates were reported near 76.7%; and third-grade phonics benchmarks rose to about 78.1% in the most recent snapshot.

Shapiro credited classroom instruction, daily small-group differentiation, job-embedded coaching and progress monitoring for the gains. She also described an intervention cycle: data review at district, school and classroom levels; diagnostic assessment for students flagged by the screener; six- to eight-week targeted interventions; and progress monitoring with adjustments as required.

Board members responded with praise and questions about materials and next steps. Several members commended the district coaches named in the presentation—Brittney Brannigan, Janice McDowell and Megan Haines—and thanked Shapiro for the data-driven approach. One parent in the virtual queue asked why the district still licenses WONDERS when many teachers praise multisensory methods; Shapiro explained that WONDERS provides the district’s scope and sequence while IMSE/Orton-Gillingham supplies a multisensory methodology used alongside the adopted program.

Shapiro noted two state bills signed by the governor in August 2024 that will require statewide screeners and parent notification beginning in school year 2025–26; she said the district already follows those protocols. She also said the district is concluding a multi-year grant period and expects to continue applying screening and coaching protocols.

The board asked staff to follow up on several questions raised during the Q&A and public comment, and Shapiro said she would provide requested clarifications after the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 11, 2025 - Work Meeting of the Board of Education","oneSentenceSummary","Michelle Shapiro, the district staff member who supervises early-literacy instruction in the Township of Ocean School District, told the Board of Education that the district has combined its adopted core curriculum with multisensory approaches, universal screening and coaching to improve early-reading outcomes.","taxTitle","Township of Ocean School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",72509,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638375,"Ocean Township administrators say tentative 2026 budget still $1 million short; mayoral cap limits options",1281,2475000,3756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f&start=2475&end=3756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f/thumbnail_2475000.jpg","/articles/6638375/New-Jersey/Ocean-Township-administrators-say-tentative-2026-budget-still-1-million-short-mayoral-cap-limits-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638375-a9abb6d0bf1f5935a8e13c55935bda7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061462&Signature=OVdQNaH5~0ooqVGilmb6iiELS4BgPPGOHgTs0QGtvlkx4xMNMUW7XWN47seBuZfRW9QHAWl6uthqw1~s4m2OOMieA81-YRf69VFmYX7KY3BfOJ3s49qVIQfbLCSqi80iT1vUf76DdWrGKJZ5s8tuurT85MHSDsaktrPaAYSTsbXhWkQ~-~LYlHj0mzJxXci6uZ6N63Xm2hJnkGDhHRmRr6XXlUvXzH-xNDN3kX4z849M6En3tynyJZBhZoOnjxeh5~ozrhBMBS1TBE3yu-o6PbZbzVWU1abcD~17~22glZXLj-xqnunLH~Qm3ZJA0ubCFRjE3cU1xROcr2qq3S8KcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Township of Ocean School District’s School Business Administrator, Jeff Hastings, told the Board of Education that updated state aid and internal expense reductions have narrowed an earlier deficit but the district still faces about $1 million in required savings before the April 29 public hearing to adopt the final 2026 budget.

Hastings said the district’s previously discussed gap of roughly $1.7 million was reduced after state aid adjustments of $213,617, a review of supply-line forecasts that freed about $131,000 and the net effect of recent retirements and resignations totaling roughly $385,651. He said those changes reduced the shortfall but the district still must identify about $1 million more in savings to stay within the 2.69% tax levy cap the district can legally adopt for 2026.

Hastings described proposed and postponed capital work: the district will move forward with replacement of select exterior classroom doors but is postponing or denying several larger requests, including a heat curtain at the high school, window replacements, stadium turf and other substantial projects. On technology, he said the district will add some security cameras but will not fund all requested cameras and is postponing large-room projectors, certain radios and large office monitors.

On personnel, Hastings said administrators are assessing recent retirements and resignations to determine whether positions must be refilled; that strategy produced tens of thousands of dollars in savings to date. He said cuts under consideration could come from a range of job categories, including support staff, administration and, where unavoidable, instructional positions—steps that could affect class sizes and program offerings depending on final decisions.

Board members asked for more detail about how personnel adjustments would affect day-to-day operations. A board member noted the district’s rising special education and multilingual-learner populations when cautioning against equating staff reductions with declining need; Hastings said the district is trying to balance legal limits on the tax levy with obligations to those student groups.

Hastings said the tentative budget — a draft submitted to the county for review — will be revised as administrators identify further reductions. He said the district is using all available tools now: the 2% base tax levy increase, a banked-cap option and a health-care waiver that allows a higher levy given higher-than-expected costs. The presentation included an example of homeowner impact: on an average assessed home of $931,000 Hastings said the school portion of the tax would rise by about $173 annually (about $14.43 per month) under the current levy proposal.

The board directed administration to continue reviewing the impending cuts and to return with updated options before the April 29 public hearing and final adoption.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (7.1 and 7.2): Motion carried (roll call recorded); one abstention recorded in the transcript. Motion moved by Board member Dalton.
- Personnel items (8.1–8.9): Approved by roll call; one abstention recorded in the transcript.
- Financial items (9.1–9.8): Tentative budget actions and related resolutions were approved to advance the tentative budget to county review.
- Safety grant application (9.9): Approved (authorization to apply for NJ Schools Insurance Group safety funds).
- Instructional items/field trips (10.1–10.2): Approved.
- Memorandum of Agreement with Bus Drivers Association (11.1): Approved by roll call; one board member changed vote to abstain during the roll call.
- Policy second reading (12.1): Approved by roll call.
- Policy first reading items (12.2): Introduced for first reading (no final action at this meeting).

Administrators emphasized that the 2.69% levy cap is a legal ceiling, not a spending target, and that continued reductions will be necessary if the district cannot identify $1 million in additional savings prior to the final adoption date.","The Township of Ocean School District’s School Business Administrator, Jeff Hastings, told the Board of Education that updated state aid and internal expense reductions have narrowed an earlier deficit but the district still faces about $1 million in required savings before the April 29 public hearing to adopt the final 2026 budget.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638370,"Scott Brady sworn in as new member of Ocean Township Board of Education",172,33000,205000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f&start=33&end=205","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2571899-403beec8059e6cd52157967bf999116f/thumbnail_33000.jpg","/articles/6638370/New-Jersey/Scott-Brady-sworn-in-as-new-member-of-Ocean-Township-Board-of-Education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638370-1b6cd318b00892d05f8c3f205e2d7ce0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061462&Signature=jnZbkCcI1-g7jK~Xt78wvX~zF55VWG0aiQI6n-PGTbq7yKrG4vgBRTKa~dHVy9xfJNABsr7jd1Mgk00QsRYayxIFrArJaoXE-hL-Y4~LWZHKqv3jlNlJ6wk5QGrGIxIIIcg0gOhlRxPbto~Zzq6qAU8LaAX71vUsM5PxIiuBZw-bzpBdx~WRSRUa1qiqxZaGa8LMlV5AIt0rVfkLKhXTiIWDX5n9yjXCVa-eX4rjRnrub7DfKQ3erlBSfqYFas~PM9miX6zpiDzlF97PXKlfUjL2FdlQcbflLCS-Kop8h9CZH1F3j489QxE66SX3C7oC42SGSKyfARJR-TQEkZRigw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scott Brady was sworn in as a member of the Township of Ocean Board of Education during the meeting. Board President McCarthy introduced Brady, described his background as an educator and resident and asked him to come forward for the oath.

The oath of office was administered in the form on the record; the transcript records the statutory language used and references to RS. 19:4-1 and N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1 concerning qualifications and disqualifications for holding board office. After the oath, board members and meeting attendees offered congratulations and photographic recognition.

No formal vote was required for the swearing-in. The board proceeded with its agenda following the ceremonial introduction.","The Board of Education administered the oath to Scott Brady, who was introduced by the board president and formally joined the board with full rights. The oath referenced state statutes regarding qualifications and disqualifications for board office.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ocean Township presents data-driven early literacy work; officials cite gains in K–3 benchmarks

Ocean Township administrators say tentative 2026 budget still $1 million short; mayoral cap limits options

Scott Brady sworn in as new member of Ocean Township Board of Education