Skip to content

Category: High Schools

Published on

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Amy Lloyd, K-12 Math Consultant, Teaching & Learning

Principals,

We are excited to announce the formation of a High School Math Steering Committee for the 2026-27 school year. This committee will advance mathematics instruction by:

  • Researching and discussing effective teaching practices
  • Creating a unified scope and sequence and pacing guide
  • Developing common assessments
  • Designing and implementing professional learning based on identified needs

We invite you to nominate two to three teachers from your school who are open-minded, committed to professional growth, and eager to foster positive change for teachers and students.

Teachers will serve on the committee for two years and will receive a stipend for their participation.

Please submit the names of two to three teachers for consideration using this link. We aim to have 1-2 teachers representing each high school.

Thank you for your support in continuing to move math forward!

Published on

TO:
Principals

Principals,
Please re-share the link below with your faculty and staff that was recently posted in JEM. We want to make sure everyone has a chance to claim their personalized Walmart+ code.

GREAT NEWS! Board Purchases One Year of Walmart+ for Every JSD Employee

Published on

TO:
All JSD staff who use Qmlativ Finance

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator

The Accounting team has created instructions to learn how to complete journal entries, move money requests, entering E-checks, the availability and use of financial reports, and data conversion information. Use the quick links below to go directly to a section of interest. Please share this post with anyone you feel would benefit.

Journal Entries

Journal entries to the same fund are operational and should be entered as usual.

Skyward Finance currently does not have the Due to/Due from offsets feature functioning for journal entries.  The Due to/Due from offset is required when doing journal entries across funds.  In order for Accounting to fix your JEs so they will process, please select your “Pay Other Loc” journal entry group.  The correct journal entry group must be selected when you start your JE.  It cannot be adjusted after the fact.  For now, follow the instructions below to get your JE’s submitted to accounting who will fix the due to/from offset.

  1. Click the Add a Journal Entry
  2. Add attachments
  3. Select the “Pay Others Loc” Journal Entry Group for your location.
    Add Journal Entry Example
  4. In the Journal Details screen (quick entry/journal entry detail) do the following for each scenario:
    To pay another school- Please only include this single transaction in the journal entry.
    Journal Entry - To pay another school
    To pay Nutrition- copy the same accounts used for your debit and credit and reverse the debit and credit amounts.  Include the phrase “due to/due from” in the short descriptions and Accounting will fix your entry.
    Journal Entry - To pay Nutrition
    To pay transportation - copy the same accounts used for your debit and credit and reverse the debit and credit amounts.  Include the phrase “due to/due from” in the short descriptions and Accounting will fix your entry.
    Journal Entry - To pay Transportation

If your journal entry includes more than two funds, it will be easier to send them to Accounting to be entered. Please contact Accounting for instructions.

The “Pay Others Loc” Journal Entry Group should only be used in the situations above.  For corrections within your own location, use the Journal Entry group with your location number.

Move Money

The move money process task can be found in the “My Tasks and Processes” menu.  Under my processes on the left side, select “Start a Process”.  Click the “Start” play button next to the Payroll Move Money to a different account task.
Move Money Task

As before, please enter the name of the employee for which payroll existing payroll charges need to be moved.  Then click on the “form” hyperlink called “Payroll Move Money to Different Account”.  A box will pop up alerting you that you will be opening a new browser tab.  Click ok.
Payroll Move Money to Different Account

Another tab will open where you can enter check dates of pay to move.  You must enter the dates you wish moved.  Move moneys can only move payroll that has already been paid.

Enter either an amount, or a % to move for each account.

Enter the full account number of the incorrect account and the correct account.  You can enter more than one account with a % split.

Please provide an explanation of the reason for the move money.

Please attach back up documentation at the bottom, under upload files.

At the top you can save and exit, which enables you to come back to this task at a later date, or submit form.
Moving money - submit form

Reports

The following reports in the “accounts” menu have been created and tested by Accounting.  With the exception of the encumbrance issue below, they are accurate and represent correct program accounting information.

JSD-Budget Report by Object - This report is a summary of revenues and expenditures. The input screens allow you to select the month, specific program, functions, and/or objects.  The bottom of the report has a grand total of revenues, expenditures, and net activity.

JSD-Revenue and Expense Detail - This report lists the detail transactions by account for selected programs, functions, and/or objects.

Fund 21 Summary Reports are being tested now and will be available soon.

Differences in Systems

Remaining Balance Column
The remaining balance column on the account list screen and on all reports is calculated by subtracting activity and encumbrances from the revised budget column.

revised budget – activity – encumbrance = remaining balance

If an account has a zero budget the remaining balance column will always be negative.  JSD does not budget every line item in most school allocations, Fund 21 or Fund 75 accounts.   Thus, the remaining balance column should not be used to determine the “balance” left in an account.  The subtotal amount on the account list screen will also net all numbers together, rather than calculating an actual remaining balance.

Presently, the “JSD Budget Report by Object” report (located in account/reports) can be run for specific accounts or groups of accounts and includes a calculated feature on the last page showing total revenues, total expenses, and NET balances.  This balance can be relied upon to reflect the overall picture of an account (with the exception of the encumbrances section below).

Revenues are credit balances
This system displays revenues with their natural accounting credit balance on the account list screens.  Credits to a revenue account increase the balance of a revenue.  Credits are good, they mean you collected revenue.  This is a difference from our old system.  Please don’t be alarmed when seeing credit balances in revenue accounts.

The “JSD Budget Report by Object” report masks the sign of revenues and displays them as a positive balance, like the previous system.  This report includes a calculated feature on the last page showing total revenues, total expenses, and NET balances.  This balance can be relied upon to reflect the overall picture of an account (with the exception of the encumbrances section below).

Both representations are correct.

Known Conversion Issues

Encumbrances
Encumbrances related to PO’s did not convert into the new system 100% correctly.  During conversion PO’s that were not fully closed or had line items that were not fully liquidated in the old system came into the new system as open PO’s.  Some PO’s did not get closed fully in the old system before conversion.  As a result, encumbrances are in varying states of accuracy.   IT and our vendor are looking into this issue and working on suggested resolutions.

Until this is resolved be advised that budgets are accurate and activity (expenditures) converted accurately.   As you are reviewing the status of your accounts, please carefully examine encumbrances to make sure they are reflecting correctly.  You can review the SMS system(old system) to review specific details.

Revenue and Expenditure Detail Reports
A JSD Revenue and Expenditure Detail report has been created, but not made available district wide. We have not made this report available because transactions created by Echecks are not pulling into these detail reports correctly.  The transactions exist and were converted into the new system, but for an unknown reason these transactions won’t pull into the detail reports.  Reports run at the present are missing data and do not agree to summary reports.

Balances on the “JSD Budget Report by Object” are accurate and do include these transactions in the totals.  We are awaiting the vendor to resolve this issue.  Account details can still be obtained in the old system for transactions through April.

Skyward is working on this as of 05/13/2026 and are hopeful it will be resolved before the end of the month.

E CHECKS

Batch name
The E-Check template has a batch name that is populated with abbreviations “ECHK” or “ECHK2”.  Please do not edit this field.  Leave this batch name as is, you do not need to change it.

Description to print on check
Adding an E-Check – Please make sure to include any information to help the vendor identify payments i.e.( account number, customer number, etc.) in the E-Check in the description code on the “Add Invoice” page (highlighted in red below). This description field prints on the memo line of the check. Please do not add your description to the “Save & Add Details” description box. This box does not print on the check.

Add check description after school name in red below:
Echecks - Add Invoice

Add any other detail that will helpful to you the invoice details description box below (in yellow).  Please note that this field will not be printed on the check or be seen by the vendor.
Invoice Detail Details

If you have any questions, contact the Accounting team at 801-567-8266.

 

 

Published on

9/11 Project Save the Date Flyer

TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals

FREE! Give your students the opportunity of a lifetime, dedicated to honoring the heroes of 9/11
Give your students the opportunity of a lifetime, dedicated to honoring the heroes of September 11, 2001. The Major Brent Taylor Foundation invites Jordan District schools to a FREE immersive experience that bridges the gap between history and the modern day.

Jordan School District schools have advanced registration through Friday, May 22, before all other districts. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

  • What:
    • Free bussing provided to the event.
    • Guided Tours: Walk through history in our world-class immersive museum.
    • Interactive Exhibits: Get hands-on with Touch-a Truck for military and first responder vehicles.
    • Leadership Lessons: Meet the heroes who keep our communities safe.
  • When: During the School Day, Sept. 10 and 14, 2026
  • Where: South Jordan Equestrian Park

This experience ensures the lessons of 9/11 are never forgotten, inspiring the next generation to serve and lead.

To reserve a bus for your classes to experience this immersive and educational 9/11 Project, use the link below. For more information, please visit the 9/11 Project page. You can also check out the 9/11 Project Overview flyer.

Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Rebecca Eastman, HR Generalist

As a reminder regarding our Employee-Funded Sick Bank Policy:
1. Employees are automatically enrolled in the sick bank each year through the annual donation of one (1) annual leave day to the sick bank.

More information regarding the Employee-Funded Sick Bank can be found in policies, DP326NEG -Sick Leave-Educational Support Professionals and DP 324NEG-Sick Leave-Licensed.

For those who wish to opt out of participation in the Employee-Funded Sick Bank, keep an eye out for instructions starting in the July issues of JEM and JAM.

*First Year Educational Support Professionals and hourly employees are not eligible
for sick bank, therefore, a sick bank day will not be deducted (if applicable).

Published on

TO:
High School Administrators
Middle School Administrators

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Cody Curtis, Administrator of Schools

This memo outlines the required process for administering extra period stipends within the Jordan School District for the 2026-2027 school year. To ensure operational efficiency and policy compliance, all administrators must adhere to the following procedures and documentation standards:

Process Details:
1. Pre-Approval Requirement:
○ Before offering any extra period stipends, administrators must obtain pre-approval from their Administrator of Schools. This step is crucial to ensure alignment with district policies and resource allocation.

2. Completion of Required Documentation:
○ Once pre-approval is obtained, both the educator and the school administrator must complete the attached "Extra Period Stipend Agreement" form.
○ A copy of the signed agreement must be retained at the school location for the entire academic year.

3. Enrollment Dashboard Update:
○ The approved stipend must be recorded in the Enrollment Dashboard. This ensures transparency and accurate tracking of stipends across the district.

4. Submission for HR Processing:
○ After the agreement is signed, the school is responsible for submitting the Extra Period Stipend form to Human Resources through Qmlativ.
○ This submission will be processed in Qmlativ, ensuring the stipend's inclusion in the educator's monthly payroll.

5. Monthly Dashboard Reflection:
○ Once the form is processed through HR, the FTE will be reflected on both the Enrollment Dashboard and HR Dashboard each month that the educator receives the additional stipend.

Important Reminders:
● The stipend is contingent upon factors such as student enrollment, budget constraints, and scheduling needs and may be revoked if necessary.
● All requests for extra-period stipends must be documented and processed according to the guidelines outlined herein.
● “Class” is defined as an assigned instructional period in which graded instruction is provided to students by the teacher of record. Only periods meeting this definition qualify for extended day. Positions that do not serve as the teacher of record for a class period, including but not limited to counselors, instructional coaches, teacher specialists, athletic directors and other non-classroom roles, are not eligible for extended day periods.

Attachments:
● Extra Period Stipend Agreement Form

Thank you for your attention to these important updates and for your continued commitment to supporting our educators.

Published on

DATE:
May 14, 2026

TO:
Principals
Special Education Teachers (Preschool and School Age)
Speech-Language Pathologists

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education

SUBJECT: 
Extended Year for Special Educator Stipend Days 2025-26

The legislation allows a specific group of special educators to work up to 4 additional days for a $200/day stipend (plus applicable benefits). The Bill applies to Special Education Teachers (Preschool and School-Age) and Speech-Language Pathologists only (Speech-Language Technicians are not included). The number of days and stipend amount are based upon the educators assigned FTE equivalent. Teachers who have been hired with an Associate Educator License will count as licensed teachers and will be eligible for the stipend. Days can be worked 2 weeks before or after your contract.

Eligible staff that have days left to work, and did not work all of their allotted days in the fall, are required to complete an online survey to be paid for these days. After you have completed working the days, simply click on the link below to start the survey. Days worked must be full or half days and not a combination of assorted hours and must be worked in your assigned building(s). 

The days available for you to work are: June 8-12th, 16-19th, and 22nd. Please remember that June 5th is the last contract day and June 15th is a holiday. These days do not count toward Extended Year Days.

It is important to remember:
Below is the link to submit the days after you have worked. When asked for the approver for your submission do not put your principal or LEA. Please put amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org so that the submission can be approved through the Special Education office and be sent to the State Office for payment. If you list your building supervisor as the approver, your request will not be submitted for payment.

https://usbe.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cYBjLsW7tzP9Nau

Please read the survey carefully, making sure you answer all of the questions listed, as you will be paid according to what the survey generates. Only those that complete the survey will be paid. Any timesheets submitted directly to the Special Ed. or Payroll departments will not be paid. Please note that the window for completing the survey closes June 26, 2026.

Please remember you cannot count the days you already worked and were paid for in the fall. You can only count the days you work after your last contract date at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The State Board of Education has discontinued any leniency on dates that you work. You may ONLY work and report the two weeks after your last contract day. Therefore, you will only be paid for dates that are between June 8 to June 22, 2026 (excluding weekends and holidays) and only the number of days you have remaining from fall 2025-26.

As you plan for the coming year, keep in mind the legislature will presumably award days for the 2026-27 school year, which you can begin working two weeks prior to your first contract day, which is August 10, 2026. More information about next year’s days will be forthcoming. If you have questions, or need help with the survey, please contact Amanda Hamblin at amanda.hamblin@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8177.

 

Published on

DATE:
May 14, 2026

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services

SUBJECT:
Free Safety & Behavior Conference

The S4K Safety & Behavior Conference is free for any administrator, teacher, or other educator that signs up. This conference is three (3) days of hands-on, real-world crisis response strategies for creating positive cultures through safety and support. 

Topics include crisis prevention, de-escalation, mental health awareness, PBIS, MTSS, strategies to reduce bullying, implementing protective factors and strategies to build a safer, more connect school community. 

Use this link to sign up if you are interested. The attached flyer provides more information about the conference, registration, and registration for larger school groups. 

Published on

DATE: 
May 21, 2026

TO: 
All Building Administrators

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Caleb Olson, Enrollment Consultant, Student Services

SUBJECT:
June 2026 Discipline Entry Deadlines

In order to allow time for the weekly discipline review process and for correction of any errors identified through state reporting processes, please have all discipline entries for the 2025-26 school year entered no later than June 12, 2026. Discipline can and should be entered earlier, if possible.

Discipline entries entered by June 12 will be reviewed and corrections will be sent to schools on June 18. These corrections should be processed by schools as soon as possible and no later than June 25.

Published on

DATE:  
May 14, 2026

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator

SUBJECT:
Bleed Control (TECC) and First Aid Kits

New TECC kits (aka Bleed Control kits) for classrooms will be delivered to each school during the summer. Each school will also receive several First Aid Kits.

TECC Kits (Bleed Control):

  • Kits currently in your building are being replaced with new and updated kits.
  • Please collect the TECC kits from each classroom or instructional areas as a part of your end-of-year check-out process.
    • Large Bleed Kits or those mounted to a wall (usually in a Pelican storage case) do not need to be collected.
    • A typical TECC kit is pictured below.
  • TECC kits will be delivered by the District to the school at some point during the summer.
    • The old TECC kits that were collected at check-out will be picked up when the new ones are delivered.
    • Schools should retain at least 10 of the old TECC kits to place in other areas/rooms or for emergency use as the school sees fit.
    • A new TECC kit should be distributed to each classroom/instructional area and other larger gathering areas such as gymnasiums and auditoriums.
  • Each School Safety Specialist (Administrator assigned school safety) should annually inventory the TECC kits in the school.

First Aid Kits:

  • Will be delivered to the school during the summer at or about the same time as the TECC kits.
  • One First Aid Kit should be placed in the main office and in each gymnasium.

If you have any questions or you would like to request to retain additional old TECC kits, please contact Matt Alvernaz (School Safety Coordinator) at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8623.

Published on

DATE:   
Thursday, May 14, 2026

TO:
High School Administrators

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

SUBJECT: 
ACT Scores from the 11th Grade State Testing to be Reissued

The following information was received from USBE regarding the 11th grade administration of the ACT. Schools should consider sharing this information with 11th grade students and their parents.

Status Update: ACT Online Scores to Be Reissued

  • ACT has announced that there is an issue with ACT scores from the Utah Spring Online Administration.
  • Please see the following from ACT about the issues:
    • Based on our continual evaluation of scores, we have discovered the need to reissue scores for students who took the online ACT during spring state and district testing. This is based on an update to the process used to ensure all scores are accurate for all students regardless of when and how they take the test. We conducted additional analysis and confirmed that this need is not related to the design of the enhanced ACT, the introduction of embedded field test items, or the new Composite score calculation. We are confident that the process outlined for rescoring will result in fair and accurate scores for all students.
    • Effective Wednesday, May 13, students who took the online ACT during spring state and district testing will see their scores from those administrations removed from MyACT. They will have their scores available in MyACT after the rescoring process is complete.
    • To facilitate the rescoring and keep students informed, they will see a message upon logging in to MyACT alerting them of the temporary delay in their access to these scores.
    • The process of rescoring tests will begin immediately after scores are removed from MyACT and will go through all validation processes before being made available to affected students. All affected students will have access to their scores from this administration before June 2.
    • For districts and schools, current scores will remain in the Success environment. Revised scores will be loaded to Success on a rolling basis, and we will communicate with you and your districts when your students’ revised scores have been uploaded to that system.
  • We, at USBE, will continue to monitor the situation and will update you as we learn more.
  • School and LEA ACT test coordinators can expect an email from ACT within the next few days.

Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, May 14, 2026

TO: 
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT: 
2026 WIDA ACCESS Results in Tableau

2026 WIDA ACCESS results are now in Tableau.  Viewers may see language proficiency levels over time for the following categories:

  • Overall Composite Score
  • Composite Scores (Comprehension – listening and reading; Literacy = reading and writing; and Oral = listening and speaking)
  • Reporting Categories: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing

Viewers may also see growth target data over time based on the state’s growth goals for each student as well as student participation over time on the WIDA ACCESS.

Included in the dashboard is a student list with historical WIDA ACCESS results going back to 2022.  Viewers may filter results using a variety of demographic and assessment filters to create lists of students for support and intervention planning for the 2026-27 school year.

Viewers may access the WIDA ACCESS summary dashboard here.

For questions about the WIDA ACCESS assessment and results or this summary dashboard, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Published on

TO:
Administrators, Principals, School Admin Assistants

FROM:
Katie Bastian, Nutrition Services Director

Jordan School District Summer Meals Program will be offered at 4 school sites this summer. Meals are free for children 18 years of age and younger. Serving days and times are included on the attached flyers. Please share this information with your school community in the next couple of weeks before school is out.

Published on

DATE: 
May 14, 2026

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Melanie Dawson, Principal Rivers Edge
Amanda Bollinger, Teaching and Learning Staff Assistant
Brian King, Special Education Staff Assistant
McKinley Withers, Health and Wellness Consultant
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture

SUBJECT:  
School Self-Assessment: The Tiered Fidelity Inventory

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require the use of ongoing data to continually assess needs. To continue the work of implementing a consistent MTSS framework within the District, additional information is being requested to help evaluate the needs and desires for MTSS training provided by District staff (District MTSS Team).

Principals, please complete this survey to indicate your level of need in the following MTSS systems:

  • PBL - Proficiency Based Learning
  • PBIS - Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
  • RTI - Response to Intervention
  • SEW - Social Emotional Wellness
  • PLC - Professional Learning Communities

Published on

DATE:
May 14, 2026

TO:
School Principals and Administrative Assistants

FROM:
Administrators of Schools

SUBJECT:
Principal Year-End Checkout for 2025-26

Attached are the items to be completed for principal checkout.

  • Items highlighted in yellow will be reviewed at check out with your Administrator of Schools.

Published on

TO:
All administrators and Admin Assistants

FROM:
Dan Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets, and Audits

There was a problem with the posting of insurance to program accounts in the month of April. Therefore, reports sent in April are incorrect and the issue will be corrected as soon as possible once Qmlativ is up and running.

Published on

TO:
Administrators
Counselors

FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language and Culture Services

Join Language and Culture Services for a training session on Discriminatory Language. We will explore the impact of discriminatory language in K-12 settings and provide recommendations to administrators and counselors on how to address discriminatory language. Several resources will be shared with participants, including a facilitated discussion guide to use with students.

You can select a morning session or an afternoon session.

Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, May 7, 2026

TO: 
All School Administrators

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services

SUBJECT:      WIDA ACCESS Score Reports and Parent Reports

WIDA ACCESS scores were made available on April 30th. A representative from Assessment, Research, and Accountability delivered score reports to schools on May 4-5. Scores will also be available in Tableau, Skyward and Panorama soon.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding this year's scores, as shared by WIDA: 

"For the last few years, WIDA has been revising Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs (now WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten) and ACCESS for ELLs (now WIDA ACCESS) to incorporate the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. This school year, you tested students with these revised assessments! Now that you’re done with testing, WIDA needs to ensure that student scores still provide an accurate picture of a student’s English language development. This process happens during a standard setting event after the first annual administration of the revised assessments. The ACCESS standard setting event is scheduled for July 2026.

Because of standard setting, you’ll need to approach your ACCESS score reports in 2026 with additional attention. As you prepare to receive ACCESS score reports in 2026, know that

  • You will receive score reports on your regular reporting timeline.
  • You can use 2025–2026 ACCESS scores to make decisions about students for the 2026–2027 school year, either to exit students or decide on classroom placement.
    • Students that receive a composite score of at least 4.2 and a speaking score of at least 3.5 will still be considered proficient and will "pass" WIDA. 
  • You should treat 2025–2026 ACCESS scale scores as a new baseline to measure future growth against (don't compare scale scores from previous years).
  • You should use 2025–2026 ACCESS proficiency level scores with caution prior to the ACCESS Standard Setting 2026 event as they will reflect the old proficiency level cut scores.

Learn more about ACCESS in the 2025–2026 school year on the WIDA ACCESS in 2025–2026 page."

Please review the the 2026 WIDA ACCESS Interpretive Guide for Score Reports to understand how to interpret WIDA ACCESS scores.

If there are any updates to be aware of after the standard setting event, we will share that during our initial Task Force meeting next Fall.

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION LETTERS
Schools are expected to send home Annual Notification Letters, along with the Student Score Report, each year by the last day of school. This year, annual notification letters will be sent home digitally via ELLevation using their new Family Communications Tool.

Language & Culture Services will set up the letter cycle and add students to the cycle for each school in Forms on the ELLevation platform. We will need your school's help in monitoring the status of these letters to ensure they are seen by parents. To learn about this process, check out this Annual Notification Letters document which explains the process. We recommend working with your ELD Lead, office staff, and Language Teacher Specialist through this process.

This information was shared with your office staff when WIDA Score Reports were dropped off on May 4th or 5th.

Please reach out to your school's Language Teacher Specialist in Language & Culture Services if you need any support with the annual notification letters. For questions about WIDA ACCESS scores or testing, please contact JoLynn Snelgrove in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

 

Published on

DATE:
May 7, 2026

TO:  
Principals and Assistant Principals

FROM: 
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health & Wellness Consultant
Michelle Reyes, Attendance/Prevention Specialist, Health & Wellness

SUBJECT: 
High Impact Attendance Actions for May and the May 2026 Attendance Newsletter

Key actions schools can take in May to maintain student engagement and attendance through the end of the year. Also, check out the May Edition of the attendance Newsletter.

1. Strategic Student Support
Identify students who are on the "cusp" of becoming chronically absent.

  • Data Analysis: Use attendance dashboards to find students who have missed between 10% and 15% of the year.
  • Targeted Outreach: Instead of focusing only on severe cases, prioritize these "moderately" absent students. A proactive nudge now can prevent them from crossing the chronic threshold by June.

2. Re-Engage Families after Testing
High-stakes testing can lead to burnout and "return anxiety" for students who have already missed significant time. After students have pushed through the testing they may feel ready for a break, and while it is important to recharge, this should not signal that all instruction has ended.

  • “Send proactive reminders” letting students and families know that important learning is still happening to prepare their students for the next year and it shouldn’t be missed.
  • “Create A Post-Testing Watch List with Targeted Messaging”: find students that have missed 1 of the last 5 since testing closed, have had recent attendance changes or are nearing the 10% threshold to send targeted encouraging messages to.
  • Spring Communication Plan: Ensure families and students know about all of the important dates and events from now until the end of the year. Include all of the “unmissable days” (graduations/promotions, class parties, performances, celebrations, etc.)

3. Launch a Finish Strong Campaign
A campaign dedicated to keeping attendance up through the end of the school year can pay off. What might this include?

  • “Grade Level Attendance Challenges”: This may help you get students in on the game and encourage each other to show up.
  • “Weekly Shout-outs”: Everyone likes to be recognized for their efforts and hard work. Celebrating good or improved attendance can keep up the momentum.
  • “Friendly Schoolwide Competition”: Aiming for improvements week over week and celebrating improvements can also create momentum.
  • “Emphasize the ‘why’ ”: It can be easy to reach burnout as the end of the year approaches, but a continuous reminder that important learning is still happening helps keep students on track for the next year and can remove the misconception that nothing important happens at the end of the year.

Questions? Contact Michelle Reyes at michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8205.