Jordan School District
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
We want to provide you with one place to find the information to support the Language and Culture in your school. Here you will find:
1. Information on commgap
2. How to prepare for Title III compliance
3. Fall Family fair
4. Giraffe club, presentations and other school support.
DATE:
August 20, 2026
TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Jodee Packer, Student CARE Specialist
SUBJECT:
Wellness Centers
As we prepare to support students in Wellness Centers around the district, student services is here to help train and support new and returning wellness room coordinators.
This session will cover foundational operational standards, student privacy laws, mandatory reporting procedures, and data collection practices designed to measure student impact.
Training Details
Action Requested from Principals
For questions or additional details, please contact Jodee Packer 801-567-8193.
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Jessica Stowe, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning
Teaching & Learning is offering a UFLI training for classroom assistants who frequently sub for teachers. The training will take place on September 30th from 9:00-11:00 in the Presentation Room at the ASB (Entrance C). Employees attending this training will be able to log into TrueTime to receive compensation for their time. This training is by principal invitation, and employees can contact Brittney Eldredge to register.
TO:
Elementary Administrators
Coaches
Kindergarten Teachers
FROM:
Carolyn Gough - Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Jessica Stowe - Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning
Mandy Thurman - Elementary Literacy Consultant of Teaching and Learning
Dear Kindergarten Teachers,
It’s so exciting to begin another school year and our second year of Planet Kindergarten and Letter Launch! Last year, our kindergarten students left kindergarten and began first grade in a stronger place than they have historically. That is something worth celebrating!
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Letter Launch Workshop. Thank you to everyone who participated and especially to those who shared their expertise by teaching breakout sessions. I’ve heard so much positive feedback about the presentations! I’ve posted all of the resources shared by our presenters on the Letter Launch Workshop page of the K–2 Goals website.
We have one more Letter Launch class on September 11 at 1:30-3:30. This is a repeat of last year’s Letter Launch class and is designed for new teachers, those who were unable to attend previously, or anyone who would like a refresher. Please register in Canvas.
I’ll be sending newsletters throughout the year to help you stay up to date on data and give you a glimpse into some of the inspiring things happening across the district.
Kindergarten has two goals for the first quarter:
Mastery Connect dates for letter and sound data:
These optional progress-monitoring dates are an opportunity not only to see your classroom data, but also to become familiar with Mastery Connect and the many features the platform has to offer. Larisa Nageli is over Mastery Connect and would be more than happy to talk through any questions or concerns you have.
Most importantly, remember that you are not in this alone. If at any time you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply aren’t sure what to do next, the literacy team is here to support you. When you share your questions or concerns with us, you help us better understand what teachers need and plan meaningful training and support.
Thank you for all that you do each day. Your work matters tremendously. There isn’t a day that goes by that our literacy department doesn’t recognize the dedication, creativity, and hard work you are putting into building strong readers across Jordan School District.
We are so excited to see what this year brings!
With gratitude,
Lori McCarty
Date:
August 20, 2026
To:
All Administrators
All Registrars
From:
Steffany Ellsworth, Assistant Director - Information Systems
Steven Harwood, Assistant Director - Information Systems
Subject:
Dropout Cohort Cleanup Report
In an effort to improve our graduation and dropout statistics at the State Board of Education, it is important that we correctly account for each student’s enrollment. Each school’s current dropout cohort cleanup report will be provided to registrars by Friday, August 21st. The report will come from JSD Information Systems through MoveIT. This is a report of students who are currently counted as dropouts for your school for the 2025-26 Cohort. Registrars review each record on this report to determine whether or not an existing dropout exit code can be changed (thus lowering your dropout rate).
Please connect with your registrars to ensure they are working to enter the corrected information and return the report in the same electronic format as was sent via MoveIT to Carrie Norris (carrie.norris@jordandistrict.org) in Information Systems by September 28, 2026. They should also send a cc copy to Stacee Worthen in Student Services and Brooke Anderson in Assessment, Research and Accountability.
Information Systems will be providing training for registrars on September 15th at the Attendance/Registrar Admin Assistant meeting. This training will provide registrars with the information and tools needed to review the dropout cohort report and make changes as necessary. If your registrar is new to this report, or just needs a refresher, please ask them to attend this training.
Feel free to contact the Information Systems Help Desk at (801) 567-8737 with any questions as you work through this process. The UTREx system is a great help in locating students. If your registrar doesn’t have access to UTREx, principals may request access for them by emailing a request to ishelpdesk@jordandistrict.org.
DATE:
August 20, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Ian Roberts, Director of Facility Services
SUBJECT:
2026-2027 Facility Services Contact Updates
Facility Services has a number of updates to personnel for the 2026 – 2027 school year. You will find the updated contact information and area responsibilities within the facilities department below. Refer to Facility Services web page for any additional information. Please share these updates with your administrative assistants and custodians.
TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Annual Leave During the Contract Days Before School Starts
All Licensed Employees
8/10/26-8/17/26
Licensed employees may not use annual/personal leave during the contract days before school starts. However, they may, through correlation with the principal, arrange to exchange one of these days for another non-contract day.
Annual or Personal Leave During the First Five Days of School
All Licensed and ESP Employees
8/19/26-8/25/26 Elementary Schools
8/18/26-8/24/26 Secondary Schools
8/18/26-8/24/26 District Offices Auxiliary Services
DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals
Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the first five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If the leave reason does not meet the policy exceptions, Licensed employees will be docked $170 and ESP employees will be docked 40% of their daily rate.
DATE:
Thursday, August 20, 2026
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Record of August 11th Professional Learning Day Attendees
School administrators may access a Tableau dashboard that contains a record of all educators who signed in using the QR codes for the morning keynote sessions during the August 11th professional learning day. The dashboard may be accessed here. Administrators may also filter the list by conference location.
For questions about this dashboard, please refer to Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
DATE:
Thursday, August 20, 2026
TO:
All Assistant Principals Over Testing
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Testing Coordinator & Assistant Principal Collaboration Meetings
In an effort to align practice and support, Assessment, Research & Accountability is sponsoring a collaboration meeting for school testing coordinators and assistant principals over testing. The purpose of this collaboration meeting is to help school testing coordinators and assistant principals who oversee testing to maximize efficiency in their testing procedures and processes. We have found that in providing schools with the opportunity to collaborate with others in similar roles, teams and testing personnel leave feeling better equipped to make testing easier and more efficient for everyone. Please come ready to share what has been working for your school.
Here are the items we’ll cover during the meeting:
Here are the dates and times for this collaboration meeting:
We anticipate this being a beneficial meeting for all – regardless of testing experience.
For questions about this collaboration meeting, please contact Kassidy Towery or Kristi Schwebach in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Brandon Larsen, Performing & Fine Arts Consultant
Annual BTS Arts Principal Meeting will be held on September 24, 2026 10:30-12:00pm in the Jordan Learning Center
As we gear up for a fantastic school year, please join us for the annual BTS Arts Meeting & Luncheon, a dedicated space to nourish both your body and your school’s arts programming. We’ll be sharing high-value updates, practical strategies to maximize your arts integration, and key insights to support your educators. Most importantly, this interactive session gives you a direct seat at the table to get your burning questions answered, brainstorm with fellow administrators, and ensure your school gets the most out of the BTS Arts program this year.
Save the date, bring your questions, and let us treat you to lunch!
TO:
High School Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Curtis Jenson, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning
Nate Foster, Health & P.E. Specialist
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, all PE Test-Outs will be in the form of Physical Education Demonstrated Competency Assessments and will be coordinated through the Jordan Credit Center. This includes the following courses:
● Participation, Skills & Techniques (PST)
● Fitness for Life (FFL)
Students interested in completing a PE Demonstrated Competency Assessment must sign up through their school counselor. Counselors will coordinate the registration process with the Jordan Credit Center. There will be no study guide assigned for the DCA. Once registered, students will complete the written portion of the assessment at the Jordan Credit Center. Successful completion of the written portion qualifies Fitness for Life students to participate in the physical portion of the assessment at their high school. The physical assessment will be conducted by high school staff. Each high school should pick and advertise 1-2 dates in the testing window and use the approved test out rubric during these assessments.
Important 2026–2027 Deadlines:
Quarter 1
● October 2: Written Test Completion Deadline for Quarter 1
● October 5–16: Fitness For Life Physical Tests conducted by High School Staff
Quarter 2
● December 17: Written Test Completion Deadline for Quarter 2
● January 4–14: Fitness For Life Physical Tests conducted by High School Staff
Quarter 3
● March 12: Written Test Completion Deadline for Quarter 3
● March 15–25: Fitness For Life Physical Tests conducted by High School Staff
Quarter 4
● April 14: Final Day to Sign Up for All Demonstrated Competency Assessments
● April 23: Written Test Completion Deadline for Quarter 4
● April 26–May 7: Fitness For Life Physical Tests conducted by High School Staff
Please help ensure that students and families are aware of these deadlines, especially the final April 14 sign-up deadline for all Demonstrated Competency Assessments.
If a student does not pass their Physical Education DCA they will be unable to attempt another Physical Education DCA until the following school year. Please work with counselors to ensure that students planning on using the DCA have a backup plan in case they don’t pass it - especially if attempted during their senior year.
Questions regarding student registration should be directed to school counselors and/or Beth Lewis at the Jordan Credit Center (Elizabeth.Lewis@Jordandistrict.org).
Questions regarding the physical assessment process may be directed to Nate Foster - District
Physical Education Specialist (Nate.Foster@Jordandistrict.org)
DATE:
August 13, 2025
TO:
All School-based Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
August 2026 Discipline Code Update
Two new discipline codes have been added for the 2026-27 school year. Please begin using these codes immediately:
IES: Indecent Exposure (Self) – Used when a student exposes their own private parts to others.
IEO: Indecent Exposure (Other) – Used when a student causes another student’s private parts to be exposed (through any means, including “pantsing” another student)
New discipline code cards should be arriving shortly via district mail for all administrators.
DATE:
August 13, 2026
TO:
School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Third Party Information Release Opt-Out
Parents (and students over the age of 18) have the right to opt-out of the release of their student’s directory information to third parties. This right is communicated to parents annually in the FERPA, PPRA, and Directory Information notices in the online “Registration for Schools” process.
To opt-out, parents must provide a written request to the school principal within the first ten school days of the year.
Parents (and students over the age of 18) should be encouraged to use the “Request to Withhold Information” form. The request (whether on the form or by other written means) must be uploaded to the student’s cumulative folder in Skyward. Once received and uploaded to the cumulative folder, the request is entered in Skyward on the Profile screen. The fields are located at the bottom of the screen (as shown below):
The field meanings are as follows:
• Military: Allow release of information to military recruiters
• Higher Ed: Allow release of information to post-secondary institutions
• Public: Allow release of information to local media or public source (schools must still obtain permission before posting student images or information on social media, websites, or before participation in media interviews and stories)
• District: This field is not used and can remain “YES”.
• Local: Allows use of information in items such as yearbooks, performance programs, and sports rosters.
Requests for opt-out must be processed promptly, as various agencies and entities are already submitting requests for
information. The written request can be filed in the student’s cumulative folder. When entered in Skyward, the opt-out
will remain from year-to-year until the parent submits a request reauthorizing the release of information.
Parents may opt-out after the first ten days of the school year but should be informed that information may already
have been released prior to their request.
DATE:
August 13, 2026
TO:
School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Attendance Secretaries
Secondary Registrars
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
Annual Reminder of Memos from Planning & Enrollment
School staff are requested to review the following memos that contain reminders of time-sensitive information from Planning & Enrollment. The content of these memos has not changed and remains applicable to schools.
• Initial Enrollment Without Birth Certificate
• Assigning Discipline Officers and Counselors for New-to-School Secondary Students
• New Student Grade Level Placement
• Enrollment of Returning Charter School Students
DATE:
August 13, 2026
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources Melissa
Flores, General Counsel
Buddy D. Alger, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services
SUBJECT:
August 2026: Responding to Subpoenas and Other Orders
Subpoenas and other court orders received by schools require immediate attention and response. There are legal requirements for responding that must be met, meaning schools cannot respond on their own. When school staff wait to request assistance in responding, even if only by a day or two, the District’s ability to either challenge the subpoena or meet the compliance deadline is hampered.
Please note that a subpoena is different from a record request. Record requests from the parent/guardian or eligible student can be processed by the school. In the event of confusion as to what the request is, contact Caleb Olson.
For subpoenas or other court orders regarding student records:
• The receiving school staff member should immediately notify the site administrator. Under DP367 - District Records Management, the site administrator bears responsibility for records at each site or location.
• The site administrator (or receiving staff member, if directed) should send a copy of the subpoena or order to Caleb Olson via MoveIt the day it is received. Caleb Olson will coordinate the District’s response with the site administrator.
For subpoenas or other court orders regarding employees or employee records:
• The receiving school staff member should immediately notify the site administrator. Under DP367 - District Records Management, the site administrator bears responsibility for records at each site or location.
• The site administrator should send a copy of the subpoena or order to April Gaydosh (HR Administrator) and Melissa Flores (General Counsel) via MoveIt the day it is received. Further information will be provided to the site administrator.
For other court orders, including search warrants or orders where the staff is unclear as to the purpose, the site administrator should provide a copy of the order to General Counsel Melissa Flores via MoveIt AND should make contact via phone or text as soon as reasonably possible.
TO:
Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
In June 2026, administrators across the district shared excellent ideas and strategies for incorporating Portrait of a Graduate characteristics in their schools and departments. Check out these links to individual schools to reflect on the good ideas that were shared and to inspire your team to think intentionally about how POG can become part of your Academic, Behavioral, or SEW systems in your school.
DATE:
August 13, 2026
TO:
Principals
Administrative Assistants
Attendance Secretaries
Registrars
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Buddy Alger, Director of Student Services
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment
SUBJECT:
2026-27 Reporting Completion of 10-Day Accounting
Students who are registered to a District school and have not attended (or been marked absent with a valid excuse) for ten consecutive school days at any point in the school year must be withdrawn from membership. This is particularly important during the first ten days of the school year so that our enrollment calculations and reporting is accurate.
Accurate enrollment counts are used to generate future projections. Projection totals are needed very soon after ten-day adjustments are completed. To assist in preparing projections, we are asking all schools to report the completion of their 10-day drops on a Google Sheet as soon as these drops are processed. Only the staff member responsible for processing the drops should indicate completion status. The Google Sheet is available at this link and will be emailed to attendance staff again close to the 10th day of school.
10 day drops for high schools may be processed at the end of the day on September 1, 2026. Elementary (Grades K-6) and middle school may process drops at the end of the day on September 2, 2026.
Guidelines for how to process these drops are available at the links below: • No-Show Guidelines
DATE:
Thursday, August 13, 2026
TO:
Elementary Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Acadience Reading Training Options
Any school personnel that will be involved in administering the Acadience Reading benchmarks in grades 4-6 and/or progress monitoring probes in K-6 should be trained in test administration procedures on an annual basis. There are several training options depending on the employee’s work assignment.
Classroom Teachers and Instructional Coaches
Teachers and coaches need complete only one of the following options:
ESP Employees
ESP employees should complete one of the following options as part of their regular contract time:
If any employee needs one-on-one mentoring or extra support for administering Acadience Reading benchmarks or progress monitoring probes, time with the district’s Acadience Mentor can be requested here.
In addition, training resources, testing practice materials, how-to instructions, and printable student materials may all be found on the Acadience Reading Resource Hub.
For questions about Acadience Reading training, please contact Janice Sperry in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
TO:
Principals & Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Katie Bastian, Director of Nutrition Services
Spread the word! Let your families know Free & Reduced Meal Eligibility Notification Letters are electronic going forward. Parents will receive their Free & Reduced Eligibility Letter by email and it is also available to view and print in Skyward Family Access. See the attached instructions for assistance. Contact Nutrition Services with any questions.
TO:
Administrators and Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Annual Leave During the Contract Days Before School Starts
All Licensed Employees
8/10/26-8/17/26
Licensed employees may not use annual/personal leave during the contract days before school starts. However, they may, through correlation with the principal, arrange to exchange one of these days for another non-contract day.
Annual or Personal Leave During the First Five Days of School
All Licensed and ESP Employees
8/19/26-8/25/26 Elementary Schools
8/18/26-8/24/26 Secondary Schools
8/18/26-8/24/26 District Offices & Auxiliary Services
DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals
Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the first five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If the leave reason does not meet the policy exceptions, Licensed employees will be docked $170 and ESP employees will be docked 40% of their daily rate.
