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Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, August 5, 2021

TO:    
Elementary School Administrators
Elementary Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
Fall 2021 Acadience Reading and Math Testing

Principals should have received their schedule for when district assessment assistants will be in schools to administer the state-mandated K-3 Acadience Reading and Math Benchmarks. For questions about scheduling, please contact Shannon Johnson at 801-567-8873 or shannon.johnson@jordandistrict.org.

There will be 9-10 assessment assistants during your assigned testing time along with your school’s instructional coach, which means that we will need space for 10-11 testing stations. To minimize distractions and the chance that students will overhear answers to test prompts, we are requesting a larger space to accommodate our testers. The school media center is preferred. If this is not possible, two classrooms in close proximity may be an option. The assessment assistants will need a larger table space than a student desk as they will be using an electronic device to administer Acadience Reading benchmarks and will also have additional materials to administer the Acadience Math benchmarks via paper/pencil.

Acadience Math:
For the first time, the state is also requiring that the Acadience Math benchmarks be administered in grades K-3. Kindergarten and first grade students will participate in one-on-one individual measures with the assessment assistants at the same time they complete the Acadience Reading benchmarks. In addition, there are whole class measures in grades 1-3 that classroom teachers will proctor. Here is what is expected of grades 1-3 teachers for Acadience Math benchmark administration:

  • Evaluation, Research & Accountability will send master copies of the quizzes to schools.
  • Each teacher will need to make copies of their quiz(zes):
    • First Grade: Computation only
    • Second and Third Grade: Computation as well as Concepts & Applications
    • Each teacher will need to attach a label with each student’s information (provided by Evaluation, Research & Accountability) to each quiz.
    • Teachers can administer both quizzes consecutively on the same day or at separate times.
    • Teachers will follow the instructions provided, proctor the quizzes and then collect them when the allotted time has expired.
    • All quizzes need to be completed prior to the date on which the assessment assistants are coming to your school. Completed quizzes will be given to assessment assistants on this day.
    • Evaluation, Research & Accountability will grade quizzes and then manually enter the data into Acadience Data Management (ADM). Teachers will only proctor the quizzes.
  • Because all Acadience Math measures are administered via paper/pencil and then manually entered into ADM, test results will not be immediately available. For at least BOY 2021, test results will be available by October 30th.

Please contact Ben Jameson or Shannon Johnson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you on a smooth Acadience Reading and Math test administration.

Published on

Students will have the option to have text read to them on the RISE Summative and Utah Aspire Plus Summative testing systems once again this year. For students in grades 3-6, the Acadience Reading Daze test will also have audio functions. Principals or their designee are encouraged to place an order for student earbuds. Please place your order by Friday, August 27, 2021.

To place an order, please click here.

Earbuds may be used for other district- or state-mandated tests, but schools will need to create a system by which the same student uses the same earbuds throughout the year as there is no additional funding to purchase more than one pair of earbuds per student in grades 3-10.

If schools wish to purchase additional earbuds for other uses, school administrators are welcome to contact Gaylene Miller in Evaluation, Research & Accountability at 801-567-8185 who can share the purchasing information and quotes used to acquire these earbuds.

Published on

Hello Administrators:

We have a few forms we would like you to fill out to give our department a better way to assist you this year.

  1. Please fill out this form to indicate who your ELD lead, compliance lead, and any Diversity clubs you will have.
  2. For an update on the amount of EARS funding you used, please indicate the information on this form.  You can also view the application and the goals that were sent in to the state here.

Published on

DATE:  
August 2, 2021

TO:   
Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:  
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:
Legislative Classroom Supplies Appropriation for 2021-22

In preparation for the new school year, we are providing you with Record of Receipt envelopes for distribution to teachers. Teachers should use these envelopes to record and keep receipts for supply purchases made throughout the year. This year each eligible teacher will receive $175.00 for supply purchases. As in the past, teachers working less than full-time will receive a portion of the $175 based on the FTE rate listed on the school’s Skyward FTE report. The language in paragraph two of the Guidelines (printed on the back of the envelope) was revised to reflect the change in the amount. If you have envelopes left from the previous school year, please discard them and issue only the new envelopes dated 5/20/21.

It is anticipated that the legislative supply funds will be deposited to teacher’ bank accounts on about the 24th of September. The supply money is not included in a paycheck, but rather as a separate deposit to the bank account the teacher provided to the Payroll Department. If you have teachers that received permission to carry over funds from the prior year, please write the amount in the box entitled “carry-over funds” on the teacher’s envelope so it can be added to the “new funds-current year” amount. If a teacher with a carry-over amount transferred to a different school within the District and your principal gave the teacher permission to use his/her carry-over amount at the new school, please communicate this information to the administrative assistant at the new school so they can record the information on the teacher’s envelope. If a teacher with a carry-over amount resigns, the teacher will need to return the funds to the school either via a payroll deduction, check, or cash payment.

Immediately following the September 24 distribution of supply money, you will receive 1) an FTE report which lists the teachers assigned to your school and 2) a disbursements report which lists the amount of money each received. These documents should be kept for reference throughout the year.

One last reminder: If a teacher resigns during the year, please insure that they turn in their legislative supply envelope prior to leaving. If the resigning teacher has a balance remaining of unspent funds, a request for a payroll deduction should be sent to Sarah Palmer, director of Payroll Services. The teacher can also return the funds by check or cash made payable to the school.

As always, if you have questions or need additional envelopes, please feel free to contact my administrative assistant, Lisa LeStarge, at 801-567-8120 or lisa.lestarge@jordandistrict.org.

Thank you for your assistance with the legislative supply money.

jl/jc
Enclosures

cc:
Anthony Godfrey
Mike Anderson
Cody Curtis
April Gaydosh
Jill Durrant
Rebecca Gerber
June LeMaster
Lisa Robinson
Brad Sorensen
Dan Ellis
Jason Mott
Mike Heaps
Jeri Gamble
Sarah Palmer
Kelly Giffin, JEA

Published on

DATE:      
July 22, 2021

TO:  
All Administrators

FROM:   
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant

SUBJECT:  
Educator Wellness Representative Opportunity!

During the 2020-21 school year, Health and Wellness began a new initiative that allowed schools to select an “Educator Wellness Representative.” Almost all of our District’s schools selected a representative. This group of wellness reps met monthly throughout the school year and collaborated with PEHP, Blomquist Hale, and others to offer opportunities to enhance individual wellness for employees. Wellness reps led efforts across the District that were tailored to their school and several schools secured additional grant funds through this initiative to support their fellow educators.

For the 2021-22 school year we will be able to offer this again!

The purpose of the Educator Wellness Representative initiative is to increase educator wellness by enhancing wellness education and mental health awareness among the school’s adult staff. As part of the initiative, each school may nominate one or two adult staff members (non-administrative) per school as “Educator Wellness Representatives.” Review the information below if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity:

  • Each school will receive up to $500 in stipends paid directly to their wellness reps (each wellness representative will receive $250)
  • Each school that selects wellness representatives will have access to a set of wellness supplies that could be used to support your teacher wellness initiative. Your school's representative will work with your school and the health and wellness team to identify and use supplies according to school needs.
  • Representatives will attend monthly meetings/trainings beginning with a virtual kick-off on September 8th from 4:00-4:30. Wellness reps can split meetings/trainings as their schedule requires if there are two per school.
  • It will be expected that your school's wellness representatives will work with your school's administration to set goals and be a resource in communicating essential wellness information and supporting wellness initiatives with your school's staff.

We are excited to use this group to disseminate great information and provide tools and strategies to help your school staff maintain wellness throughout the school year.

To select your wellness representative(s), please fill out this short Google Form by September 3rd. If you have questions, please contact McKinley Withers, 801-567-8245.

Published on

Secondary virtual students who attend some classes at Hidden Valley Middle or Majestic Elementary:

  • Eat at home
  • Make arrangements to pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from their home school.
  • Make arrangements to pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from Hidden Valley Middle or Majestic Elementary (Secondary and elementary students cannot eat in the cafeteria at the same time.)
  • Pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from one of three middle school curbside/door side locations; South Hills Middle, Joel P Jensen Middle, and Elk Ridge Middle.

Secondary totally virtual students:

  • Eat at home
  • Make arrangements to pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from their home school.
  • Pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from one of three middle school curbside/door side locations; South Hills Middle, Joel P Jensen Middle, and Elk Ridge Middle.

Elementary virtual students:

  • Eat at home
  • Make arrangement to pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from their home school.
  • Pick up ‘grab n go’ meals from one of three middle school curbside/door side locations; South Hills Middle, Joel P Jensen Middle, and Elk Ridge Middle.

Published on

The Leadership in Personalized and Digital Learning (LPDL) Academy is designed specifically for administrators to lead schools toward personalized and digital learning through research-based content and job-embedded experiences. Sign up today for the 2021-22 cohort. Open to principals and assistant principals. There will be both an elementary and secondary cohort. For questions contact Jared Covili, 801-567-8191.

Cohort 3 LPDL Academy 2021-22 Plan

Published on

Jordan School District Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to all District policies and procedures. The crucial policy review is now available to District employees in Skyward through “Online Forms.” As a condition of continued employment, all employees (i.e. Licensed, ESP, Substitutes, Coaches, Miscellaneous adults, etc.), with the exception of minor students, will be required to complete this training. We ask your assistance in notifying your employees of this required training and ask that this training be completed by November 1, 2021.

A message will appear upon login of Skyward Employee Access for the employee to complete an “Online Form.” Employees can complete the steps at that time or can return to the review at another time by selecting “Online Forms” under “Employee Information.”

Reports of completion will be available through Skyward so you can verify that your staff members have completed this process. A tutorial is attached for your reference. If you or any staff members need technical help, please call the help desk at 801-567-USER (8737).

Published on

We have had many requests from kindergarten teachers to bring back the kindergarten support groups formerly known as “Flurry in a Hurry” .  We are happy to announce that all kindergarten teachers in our district are invited to join us for “Kindergarten Night Out”.   This will be a time for kindergarten teachers to meet together, get some freebies for their classrooms, and share tips to have a successful year.  Please make sure all kindergarten teachers in each building get the attached flyer and video.  We hope to see everyone there!

Kindergarten Night Out Video

Kindergarten Night Out Flyer

Published on

DATE: 
July 29, 2021

TO:   
Principals
Assistant Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
Secondary Registrars
School Counselors

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Stacee Worthen, Consultant, School Counseling
Caleb Olson, Consultant, Planning & Enrollment

SUBJECT:  
Enrolling Students at Part-Time

Each student must have an enrollment percentage in Skyward that matches the number of courses they are enrolled in during the day. If a student is part-time, they must not be given a full-time, 100% enrolled schedule using filler classes such as “Ed Release” or similar.

When a student switches from full-time to part-time enrollment, the appropriate school staff member (a principal or administrative assistant at elementary; a school counselor at secondary) must complete the Student Release Form and have it signed by a parent (the form should print double-sided or as two pages). This form ensures that the parent is aware of and approves of the change and understands their obligations for having the student leave or return to campus. Parents must also understand that a reduced schedule at the secondary level will leave the student credit deficient and at risk of not graduating.

When signed, the form can be processed by the appropriate school staff member (typically an elementary administrative assistant or secondary registrar) and the enrollment percentage changed to the percentage given on the form (rounded to the nearest whole number). Information Systems has prepared documentation on changing a student’s enrollment percentage in Skyward. That documentation can be found at this link. The original form is placed in the student’s cumulative folder; copies are given to the parent and sent to Planning & Enrollment at the District Office.

At the secondary level, the student should only be enrolled in the number of classes recorded on the form. If the student will not be instructed by a Jordan District teacher for one or more periods, they should not have a class on their schedule for those periods. “Ed Release” or similar courses may only be used as temporary placeholders while SEATS courses are processed and added to the student’s schedule; they may not be used long-term or to keep a student enrolled at 100%. For secondary students, one period per day (or per A/B cycle) of religious release time may be counted towards school enrollment.

The form remains in effect until superseded. “Superseded” will mean at the end date listed on the Student Release Form, the next school year (when the student would likely return to full-time status), or when a new form further adjusting enrollment is completed. The copy of the Student Release Form in the cumulative folder may be destroyed when it has been superseded.

Please contact Planning & Enrollment with questions or concerns (x88183).

Published on

Please fill out your summer school information on the ESSER II Worksheets for your school ASAP. Each school is in google drive under:

"(School Name) ESSER II Worksheets". It was originally shared with you by Shelley Nordick.

Be sure to fill out the names and number of teachers and ESP who were paid for Summer School, the number of students served, and the data you collected. Please also include the name of the person you're paying from ESSER funds. Please do this for each session your school participated in.

Thank you!!!

Published on

Beginning this fall, JSD elementary administrators, teachers, and school psychs will partner with USBE to participate in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training.

For administrators, there will be an online component (10-16 hours) along with 2 face-to-face days of professional  learning. School psychs will follow the administrator schedule. Teachers will have a total of 8 units with a combination of online, application in the classroom, and in person learning per unit. USBE credit will be given to all participants upon completion.

Materials will be distributed to each school. More info will be coming closer to the delivery date.

Please the attached flyers for more information.

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, July 29, 2021

TO:
School and District Administrators

FROM:     
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
2021-22 Testing Bulletin Now Available

The testing bulletins for elementary, middle and high schools for the 2021-22 school year have been updated. They are updated throughout the year and may be found on the Evaluation, Research & Accountability website: https://assessments.jordandistrict.org/

For your convenience, individual level testing bulletins may also be accessed below:

Elementary School Testing Bulletin
Middle School Testing Bulletin
High School Testing Bulletin

Administrators will be notified if there is a change to any testing windows currently listed in the bulletins.

Published on

DATE:   
Thursday, July 29, 2021

TO:  
Elementary School Administrators

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:   
Acadience Reading and Acadience Math Canvas Training for Coaches and Teachers

As has been noted in previous JAM memos, the district assessment team will be administering the newly required Acadience Math individual measures in kindergarten and first grade for every school. Both Acadience Math and Acadience Reading will be administered at the same time on the same testing day(s) for each school.

While we have been able to recruit enough assessment assistants comparable to pre-pandemic numbers, we still don’t have enough assessment assistants to administer both the reading and math assessments in the same time period. For this reason, we will once again need the help of building instructional coaches. In order to get them trained on the Acadience Math assessment in a timely manner, elementary school administrators are asked to forward the following training information to their building coach:

Acadience Reading and Math Asynchronous Trainings
We appreciate the priceless assistance coaches offered the assessment team in helping us complete Acadience Reading testing in schools last year. We will once again need help from coaches to complete both Acadience Reading and Acadience Math (new mandate from the state) testing this year.

Acadience Math Training
Acadience Math asynchronous trainings are now available in Canvas. Coaches may access the course using the link below and should enroll in both the kindergarten and first grade modules. Upon completion of the grade level module, participants can complete a form and receive a certificate of completion for that module. This training will need to be completed by the coach prior to the assigned day that district assessment assistants will come to your school to administer the Acadience Reading and Math measures.

Coaches may access the Acadience Math Canvas course here: https://usbe.instructure.com/enroll/96NGXW

After completing the Acadience Math Canvas course, if coaches feel that they need more practice, Evaluation, Research & Accountability will be holding practice sessions with district assessment assistants on Tuesday, August 17th any time between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm in PDC 101, 102, and 103.

Acadience Reading Training
Acadience Reading asynchronous trainings are also available in Canvas. Those who are new to coaching this year will also need to enroll in and complete this course before assessment assistants come to test on your school’s assigned testing day(s).

Coaches may access the Acadience Reading Canvas course here:
https://jordanpd.instructure.com/enroll/E4MAF7

Please contact Ben Jameson (801-567-8243 or ben.jameson@jordandistrict.org) or Shannon Johnson (801-567-8873 or shannon.johnson@jordandistrict.org) with any questions.

 

Published on

DATE:
Thursday, July 29, 2021

TO:      
All Principals and District Department Directors/Consultants

FROM:
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT:  
2021-22 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures for Education Support Professionals

Licensed teachers will do their testing ethics training as part of their annual crucial policies and procedures review. Principals do not need to train their teachers on testing ethics for the 2021-22 school year; however, principals will need to conduct a training for any education support professionals (classified employees) who will assist with district, state or federally-mandated testing. This will include computer lab assistants who function as the school’s test coordinator, any classroom aides that assist with testing, literacy aides who assist with Acadience Reading testing or progress monitoring, or any office staff that assist test coordinators with district, state or federally-mandated testing.

The three required procedures for completing this testing ethics professional development are listed on the “2021-22 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist for ESPs” form, which is due to the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department by Friday, September 17, 2021.

As has been done in the past, principals may provide in-person training on testing ethics using the pdf slide deck attached with this memo. Alternatively, principals may refer education support personnel to the YouTube video that provides the same ethics training. Once education support personnel have been trained, either in-person or using the video, they are required to sign the “2021-22 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy Training Signature Form.” Principals are asked to keep these signed forms on file at the school.

There are several materials attached with this memo for your use:

  • 2021-22 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist or ESPs – This form needs to be filled out and sent to Evaluation, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 17, 2021.
  • Testing Ethics Presentation, 2022-21 – This is the pdf slide deck if principals choose to present the training in-person.
  • 2021-22 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy – This document should be distributed to every Education Support Professional that assists with state or federally-mandated testing.
  • ESP Testing Ethics Video – This is the training video that may be used in lieu of in-person training. The video may be found at this link:  https://youtu.be/WW1wXObXPQo
  • Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Training Signature Form, 2021-22 – Principals should retain a signed copy of this form for all Education Support Professionals who assist with district, state or federally-mandated testing.

Please contact Ben Jameson or Gaylene Miller in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions.

Published on

DATE:    
Thursday, July 29, 2021

TO:  
Elementary School Administrators

FROM:  
Shelley Nordick, Ph.D., Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Evaluation, Research and Accountability

SUBJECT: 
KEEP Entry Administration and Materials

Principals are asked to pass this information, along with the materials included with this memo, to their kindergarten teachers as soon as possible.

KEEP Entry administration for the 2021-22 school year is still required by the state.  The KEEP Entry window ends on Monday, September 6, 2021.  Data entry into the Data Gateway is due by Thursday, September 30, 2021.  Those who are administering the KEEP Entry (including kindergarten teachers and classroom aides) should have been trained.  Test administrators can access training in one of two ways:

Included with this memo are the following materials:

  • KEEP Entry Test Administration Manual (TAM) – Kindergarten teachers should use this manual to access the script they should read while testing. The manual also contains instructions on how to administer and score the assessment.
  • KEEP Entry Student Materials – Schools will be responsible for printing their own student materials booklet for each KEEP Entry test administrator. No changes to the assessment have been made, so teachers may use last year’s student materials.
  • KEEP Entry Score Sheet – Kindergarten teachers may fill out the scoring sheet online in their Data Gateway account while administering the assessment. They may also fill out the attached scoring sheet and then enter the data in the Data Gateway at a later time.
  • KEEP Entry Data Entry – Getting Started – This document provides a brief explanation of how to enter KEEP Entry data into the Data Gateway.

If you have questions about the KEEP Entry, please contact the following people:

  • For Data Gateway or test administration questions: Ben Jameson, Evaluation, Research & Accountability: 801-567-8243 or jameson@jordandistrict.org
  • For test administration questions: Liz Williams, USBE Assessment & Accountability: 801-538-7542 or williams@schools.utah.gov