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DATE: 
December 13, 2022

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Kim Lloyd, Director of Student Services
Fulvia Franco, Guidance Consultant

SUBJECT: 
Medicaid Reporting Requirements in EasyTrac


Beginning this year, the state changed how districts report special education services that are eligible to receive funding from Medicaid. Special education service providers are now required to enter services in EasyTrac for Medicaid billing. Medicaid funding is critical to the function of special education services in the District and accurate EasyTrac documentation is vital. Service providers should be logging the services they provide in EasyTrac regularly.

Monthly EasyTrac logging reminders will be sent to school psychologists and other service providers to assist in this effort. It is, however, strongly recommended that Administrators regularly follow up with all special education service providers (special educators, clinical support staff, school psychologists and elementary school counselors) regarding their timely and accurate logging in EasyTrac.

Questions about EasyTrac should be directed to Brenda Cruz in Special Education.

 

DATE:   
Thursday, December 15, 2022

TO:   
Middle and High School Administrators

FROM:    
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
Utah Aspire Plus Summative Test Coordinator Training


The window for end-of-year Utah Aspire Plus testing is March 6, 2023, to May 12, 2023. To prepare for the 2023 end-of-year Utah Aspire Plus Summative tests, school test coordinators are asked to complete one of the five following training sessions:

  • Tuesday, Feb 7, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Presentation room near main office in ASB)
  • Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 113 in ASB)
  • Thursday, Feb 9, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 103 in ASB)
  • Thursday, Mar 23, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 103 in ASB)
  • Middle school testing coordinator Canvas course: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/X6TJ98 or high school testing coordinator Canvas course: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/B8NBBL

Registration for this training is required through JPLS using the course code 101341: https://jpls.truenorthlogic.com/

Principals, please note the following:

  • Anyone acting as a school test coordinator for Utah Aspire Plus is required to complete one of the training sessions.
  • New testing coordinators are recommended to attend an in-person training, even if also completing the Canvas course.
  • Administrators or coaches are welcome to register in addition to testing coordinators.
  • Attendees should bring their device as this will be a hands-on workshop. Extra Chromebooks will be provided.
  • Attendees should make sure they can log in to the UT Aspire Plus system prior to attending: http://utah.pearsonaccessnext.com/pearsonaccessnext/

Please direct any questions you have regarding this training to Brooke Anderson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability, 801- 567-8393 or brooke.anderson@jordandistrict.org.

DATE:   
Thursday, December 15, 2022

TO:   
Elementary and Middle School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
ISE Summative Test Coordinator Training


The window for end-of-year RISE testing is March 14, 2023, to June 2, 2023. To prepare for the 2023 end-of-year RISE Summative tests, school test coordinators are asked to complete one of the six following training sessions:

  • Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 101 in Auxiliary Services Building)
  • Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 103 in Auxiliary Services Building)
  • Thursday, March 16, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 103 in Auxiliary Services Building)
  • Monday, March 20, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 103 in Auxiliary Services Building)
  • Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 8-11 AM or 12-3 PM (Room 103 in Auxiliary Services Building)
  • Elementary testing coordinator Canvas course: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/9PE4FA or middle school testing coordinator Canvas course: https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/X6TJ98

Registration for this training is required through JPLS using the course code 101348: https://jpls.truenorthlogic.com/

Principals, please note the following:

  • Anyone acting as a school test coordinator is required to complete one of the training sessions.
  • New testing coordinators are recommended to attend an in-person training, even if also completing the Canvas course.
  • Administrators or coaches are welcome to register in addition to testing coordinators.
  • Attendees should bring their device as this will be a hands-on workshop. Extra Chromebooks will be provided.
  • Attendees should make sure they can log in to the RISE system prior to attending: https://utahrise.org/

Please direct any questions you have regarding this training to Brooke Anderson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability, 801- 567-8393 or brooke.anderson@jordandistrict.org.

You all learned what students really wished we knew, now let’s continue to transform our learning environments for students to thrive. There will be amazing keynotes to challenge all Jordan District employees to lead and create positive relationships with our students.

Please attend JEAC, LCS, and EDIs 2nd annual conference on Jan. 17, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 pm. at West Jordan High. Attendees not on contract time will be paid their hourly rate. For those wishing to attend during contract time, please communicate with your supervisor regarding job coverage.

Jordan School District is excited to share our new partnership with YuJa, a video and screen recording software. The YuJa Enterprise Video Platform is an all-in-one video experience to securely create, manage, discover, collaborate, and live stream video content across any device.

Educators and students can create videos with unlimited storage and share their projects across a variety of district tools including Google and Canvas. You'll find YuJa in your Google Waffle, where you can access your account and begin making videos today!

For more information and some basic tutorial videos click HERE.

Any questions can be directed to Jared Covili jared.covili@jordandistrict.org 801-567-8191.

Custodial items to be covered before the Winter Recess begins on December 22.

  1. There has been some confusion on which days custodians are off during the winter recess. All full-time custodial staff are contracted for 245 days 8 hours per day. The employee calendar for all 245-day 8 hours per day ESP is attached. School recess is from December 22, 2022 until January 2, 2023 however, contracted custodial staff are scheduled to work December 22, 23, 27, 28, and the 29th. Custodial staff are able to take any leave time that is approved by their school Administration during this time.
  2. If a building is going to be unoccupied during any of the following winter recess days December 22, 23, 27, 28, and the 29, 2022 please notify Lauri Spitzenberger at lauri.spitzenberger@jordandistrict.org so the Alarm Response and Maintenance Teams, can be notified.
  3. Energy Management items: any building or area of a building that is unoccupied, the heating and lighting controls should be turned to unoccupied. The heating is not turned off, the temperature is lowered to a non-freezing but unoccupied level around 55 degrees. All lighting except the security lighting should be turned off. Kitchen doors and serving curtains along with vestibule doors should be open to allow for heat circulation. Kitchen and restroom exhaust fans should be turned off.
  4. Mandatory new work order system training (Brightly) for all Head Custodians on either December 22, 2022 at 8:00 AM. or at the custodial work shop on January 18, 2023 at 8:30 AM. Both trainings will be at the Transportation building. Lead custodians are welcome to attend this training but are not required.

Your head custodian will receive an email with these instruction on Friday December 9th from the Custodial Offices.

Thanks
Steve Peart Director of Custodial/Energy Services
385-272-9530

Participation is required for all school and District program Administrators/Supervisors with current open positions. Please see the flyer below for all the details.

Date:  January 25, 2023
Time:  6 to 8pm
Location:  Oquirrh Hills Middle, 12949 S 2700 W, Riverton, UT 84065

The central warehouse now has a limited quantity of free at-home SARS-CoV-2 test kits. They are the Access Bio On/Go Covid-19 tests using nasal swabs and reagent vials. There are 2 tests per box and they expire May 2023 (the box says May 2022, but they have been given a one-year extension.)

If any school or department is interested in having some tests on hand for employee use, then please let the Purchasing department know and we will make sure to order enough. Test kits are available immediately, so first come first serve until we receive more within 2-3 business days. Right now, there are limited quantities, so a limit of 5 boxes will be allowed for any one location. There will be opportunity for more as demand is identified.

Please email kurt.prusse@jordandistrict.org to request quantities. If this is something that is in high demand, then they will be made available through the Skyward inventory system at $0 cost.

 

As we begin to prepare for the 2023-24 school year, we would like to collect our mid-year 6th grade Acadience and Growth Measure data as soon as possible. This will allow us to provide the data to middle school principals and counselors as they begin their 7th grade registration process in January. 

Please advise your 6th grade teams to administer their mid-year Acadience and Growth Measure in December, with the deadline being Friday Jan. 2, 2023. The mid-year testing window for Growth Measure opens December 1, 2022. 

The data we collect will inform the rubrics that we use as recommended guidelines for Reading placement. (See attached.) We appreciate your patience and collaboration in our efforts to use data to do what is best for students. 

22-23 Reading Placement Rubric

DATE:  
Thursday, December 8, 2022

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM: 
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Research Project


The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Cell Phones in the Classroom for Education Rather than Distraction

Applicant: Brandy Westwood, Western Governors University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The project will involve a recruitment email sent to classroom teachers inviting them to a professional development on the use of cell phones as part of instruction. Participation in the study is at teachers’ discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

DATE:  
Thursday, December 8, 2022

TO: 
Middle and High School Administrators

FROM:  
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Research Project


The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Teacher Language Ideology Development and Heteroglossic Instructional Practice within Implementational Spaces

Applicant: Leah Davis, Utah State University

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

The researcher will be contacting your ELD teachers via email to recruit them to participate in the research project.

Thank you for your assistance.

The holiday season is here! We are all excited to celebrate and relax with our families and friends over our long winter break. This is a great time to talk to students about traditions they do celebrate with their families--whether they fall in this month or not. Enjoy the season!

The full newsletter can be found at the link below.

The following are reminders to keep in mind when completing evaluations. 

Full UETS-based JPAS -- Teachers on a full UETS-based JPAS will upload student performance information (SLO) and stakeholder input in place of completing the interview portion of the JPAS. Teachers can upload the documents directly from their computer by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Evidence” -- “Add Artifact.” Teachers are asked to name the file and can then choose to upload a document from the computer or add a URL. 

  • Student growth can be recorded on the form that was previously sent out in this issue of JAM. Please review the instructions and make sure teachers have the form for uploading. If any other documentation is being used, please  ensure  that the document includes: 
    • The core standard
    • A growth target
    • Pre assessment information (include dates and scores)
    • Post assessment information (include dates and scores)
    • A summary of student growth
  • Stakeholder input could include climate survey information, copies of emails or descriptive phone logs. The intent is to show personalized communication with parents.

Administrators may access evidence by logging into Perform and  selecting “My Staff” -- “Staff” -- the individual teacher’s Folder -- “Evidence.”  (No action is required.)

The first cycle for provisional and probationary teachers is due December 21, 2022.

Adding Observation Data into Perform (Action Required)

  • Forms must be entered into Perform the day of the observation or at the latest the next day. This is to ensure that policy and procedure are followed and evaluations do not end up out of compliance. 
  • Summative Score Form
    • This form will generate the score for you to view before meeting with teachers. You simply click on Go to Form next to the summative form and then click on Save Progress. This will generate the score so administrators may prepare for the professional development meeting. 
    • This form should not be submitted until the end of the professional development meeting with the teacher. This is due to the goal requirement. 

School districts are required to keep special education records five years past the student’s twenty-second birthday.  In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Jordan School District must notify parents and afford them the opportunity to receive special education records before destruction of those records can occur.

As of January 31, 2023, such notice will have been advertised to parents for students whose birthdates are prior to September 1995 (i.e., students who are 27 years of age).  Any records for students over the age of 22 will be stored off site until they are ready to be destroyed when the student turns 27 years of age.

Please see the attached memo for instructions for storage and destruction of Special Education Records.

Per H.B. 162 which was passed in the last legislative session and became a requirement as of July 1, 2022, which "requires local school boards and charter school governing boards to provide period products in certain restrooms within all school facilities". It has since been codified and details can be found in 53G-4-413.

All schools in the district should have received an initial distribution by the central warehouse the second week of school. Instructions were also given to each school location on how and where these products should be made available. Please refer those questions to your applicable Area Administrator of Schools.

Period products are now available to order through Skyward inventory. The cost to schools will be $0 until current supplies last. After which a cost will be automatically populated once the initial allotment of period products has been exhausted. They can be found only in the Custodial warehouse under the following:

#2306796 - Pad Period Product; (400 pads per box)
#2306797 - Tampon Period Product; (480 tampons per box)

Your custodian will stock the appropriate amount for each school, similar to paper towels, toilet paper and hand soap is supplied in your restrooms. There are sufficient quantities for the foreseeable future. Please do not try to order a large quantity of supplies to keep on hand, as we want an accurate count of how much of the product is actually being used in our schools. If you have any questions, please direct them to the Purchasing Department.