Category: Middle School Action Required

DATE:  
Thursday, October 12, 2023

TO:  
TSI School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:  
Root Cause Analysis and Goal Setting with TSI Schools

In preparation for the state’s annual resource allocation review (RAR), teams from schools that have been identified for targeted school improvement (TSI) are invited to a series of workshops that will assist school teams in examining current instruction, conducting a root cause analysis, and then setting strategic goals to address those problems of practice. Thus, schools will walk away from the workshops with a viable, strategic, and robust plan that can be implemented as part of future RAR, LAND Trust, and TSSA plans.

The workshops will address both qualitative and quantitative data from four categories: Achievement, engagement, access, and attendance. The data we will analyze will come from various sources, including Tableau, ELLevation, and Panorama. The workshops will be highly collaborative, so principals are encouraged to bring a team. Besides the principal, team members could include an assistant principal, instructional coach, lead counselor, special education team lead, ELD lead, etc.

The workshops will be offered in a series of three half-day sessions. Tier 2 and 3 TSI schools will attend their own sessions separate from Tier 1 TSI schools. For a list of Tier 1, 2 and 3 schools, please click here. School teams need only attend one half day per session.

Tier 2 and 3 Schools

Tier 1 Schools

For questions about these workshops, please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability.

Root Cause Analysis and Goal Setting with TSI Schools

DATE:
Thursday, October 4, 2023

TO:
All School Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:
2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey – Preparation and Administration Details

The 2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey will be administered to parents, school employees, and students in grades K-12 beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and ending Tuesday, November 21, 2023. All parents, licensed educators, education support professionals and students should be invited and encouraged to participate in the survey.

Survey respondents have the opportunity to take part of the survey for school individual principals, assistant principals, classroom teachers and licensed support staff (i.e., instructional coaches, counselors, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, library media coordinators, cluster leaders, etc.). Thus, we need to ensure that the survey contains an accurate list of each school’s licensed educators for whom respondents can take the survey.

The table below contains a unique link for each school that will direct viewers to a list of licensed staff that has been downloaded from Skyward. Administrative assistants are asked to verify the accuracy of that list, adding or deleting licensed educators as necessary. Staff verification lists need to be verified by Friday, October 13, 2023. This will allow enough time for Evaluation, Research & Accountability to upload the staff lists into the survey. Once the survey begins, we will be unable to add or delete any staff, so it is essential that administrative assistants carefully verify the accuracy of these lists.

The staff verification list should contain all licensed educators:

• Principal
• Assistant principals
• Counselors and social workers
• Teachers
• School psychologists
• Speech language pathologists
• Library media specialists/coordinators
• Cluster leaders
• Instructional, technology, literacy, Title I or any other licensed academic coaches (non-licensed or athletic coaches need not be included unless they fill one of the above listed roles)
• Any other licensed and certified educators at your school

Please see the table in the attachment to access your school’s staff verification list.

2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey Faculty Verification

DATE:
Thursday, October 5, 2023

TO:
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
Earbud Orders for State Testing

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 Wednesday, November 1st.

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.

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.

DATE:        
Thursday, September 21, 2023

TO:  
All School Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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

SUBJECT:  
2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey – Preparation and Administration Details

The 2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey will be administered to parents, school employees, and students in grades K-12 beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and ending Tuesday, November 21, 2023. All parents, licensed educators, education support professionals and students should be invited and encouraged to participate in the survey.

Survey respondents have the opportunity to take part of the survey for school individual principals, assistant principals, classroom teachers and licensed support staff (i.e., instructional coaches, counselors, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, library media coordinators, cluster leaders, etc.). Thus, we need to ensure that the survey contains an accurate list of each school’s licensed educators for whom respondents can take the survey.

The table below contains a unique link for each school that will direct viewers to a list of licensed staff that has been downloaded from Skyward. Administrative assistants are asked to verify the accuracy of that list, adding or deleting licensed educators as necessary. Staff verification lists need to be verified by Friday, October 13, 2023. This will allow enough time for Evaluation, Research & Accountability to upload the staff lists into the survey. Once the survey begins, we will be unable to add or delete any staff, so it is essential that administrative assistants carefully verify the accuracy of these lists.

The staff verification list should contain all licensed educators:

• Principal
• Assistant principals
• Counselors and social workers
• Teachers
• School psychologists
• Speech language pathologists
• Library media specialists/coordinators
• Cluster leaders
• Instructional, technology, literacy, Title I or any other licensed academic coaches (non-licensed or athletic coaches need not be included unless they fill one of the above listed roles)
• Any other licensed and certified educators at your school

Please see the table below to access your school’s staff verification list.

Administrative assistants, please click the link next to your school to view and verify your staff list for accuracy. Contact Ben Jameson (ben.jameson@jordandistrict.org) with questions. Please check the following items for accuracy:

1. Position Assignment Description: Use the drop-down menu to indicate if the licensed educator is an administrator or classroom teacher. For all other licensed positions for staff members that are not administrators or classroom teachers, please use the Licensed Support Staff designation.
2. Grade Level: For elementary schools, please verify the accuracy of the grade level for classroom teachers. This is because there is a different survey for students in grades K-3 and grades 4-6.
3. Missing Teachers: If a teacher in your building does not appear on the list, please add their name on the left side of the list. Elementary administrative assistants will need to add preschool teachers to their list since Skyward does not connect them to their elementary school.

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Special Schools

2023-24 Stakeholder Input Survey Faculty Verification

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

Full UETS-based JPAS -- Educators on a full UETS-based JPAS will upload student growth with data and stakeholder directly into the Perform system. Educators can upload the documents directly from their computer by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Evidence” -- “Add Artifact.” Educators are asked to name the file and can then choose to upload a document from the computer or add a URL.

Student growth with data must include the following:

• The core standard
• A growth target with reflection
• Pre assessment information (include dates and scores)
• Post assessment information (include dates and scores)

Stakeholder input could include climate survey information with reflection, teacher initiated email chain with parents or other stakeholders, or descriptive phone logs (must include date, who talked with, summary of discussions). 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.”

The first cycle for provisional teachers is due December 22, 2023.

Please contact the JES office as soon as possible when you know you may have trouble meeting deadlines.

Interim -- Educators on an Interim JPAS will complete a self evaluation and 3 required goals at the beginning of the year and reflect on the 3 required goals at the end of the year. Educators can access the evaluation by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Tasks” -- “Beginning of Year Interim Form.” Educators must click on the “Save and Submit” button once they have completed the beginning of the year form so that the evaluator can access the form for approval.

Administrators may access and approve Interim Evaluations by logging into Perform and selecting “Signatures.” Evaluations will not be available for approval until after the educator has “Saved and Submitted.”

Beginning of the year requirements and approval are due October 31, 2023.

Educators on an Interim JPAS will complete an end-of-year reflection by logging into Perform and choosing “My Folder” -- “Tasks” -- “End of Year Interim Form.” Student growth with data and stakeholder input are uploaded at this time.

Student growth with data must include the following:

• The core standard
• A growth target with reflection
• Pre assessment information (include dates and scores)
• Post assessment information (include dates and scores)

Stakeholder input could include climate survey information with reflection, teacher initiated email chain with parents or other stakeholders, or descriptive phone logs (must include date, who talked with, summary of discussions). The intent is to show personalized communication with parents.

Deadline for completion of End of the Year Interim Evaluations is May 31, 2024.

Please take note of the attached newsletter and forward it to your School Community Council members.

September-USBE School Community Council Newsletter

Digital Teaching and Learning is looking to provide your school with technology integration data about your school. To accomplish this goal, we need your help. This week we are distributing our beginning-of-year Fall 2023 DTL Survey through your digital coach. We ask that you encourage your teachers to complete the survey by the end of September. Your teachers' input helps us analyze the impact of technology, professional learning, and digital coaching across the district. It will also provide you with a better understanding of how technology is being used in your school. This will help you track improvements in student learning with technology.

Thank you again for providing us with this important information, and we hope that we can continue to support you in your technology integration efforts this year. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me or any of our digital learning specialists. Jared Covili, Admin DTL

Fall 2024 DTL Survey

Greetings!

We are anticipating a HIGH volume of substitute requests for the following date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023. To increase coverage for those absences we ask that teachers who will be absent, enter their absences AS SOON AS POSSIBLE in Skyward and Frontline.

Thanks!

DATE:
Thursday, September 14, 2023

TO:  
All School Administrators and District Department Directors/Consultants

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

SUBJECT:  
2023-24 Required Testing Ethics Professional Development Procedures for Education Support Professionals

Just a reminder from the August 17^th JAM:

Licensed teachers will do their testing ethics training as part of their annual crucial policies and procedures review. School administrators do not need to train their teachers on testing ethics for the 2023-24 school year; however, administrators 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 “2023-24 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist for ESPs” form, which is due to the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department by Friday, September 22, 2023.

As has been done in the past, administrators may provide in-person training on testing ethics using the pdf slide deck attached with this memo. Alternatively, administrators 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 “2023-24 Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Policy Training Signature Form.” Administrators are asked to keep these signed forms on file at the school.

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

• 2023-24 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist or ESPs – This form needs to be filled out and sent to Evaluation, Research & Accountability by Friday, September 22, 2023.
• Testing Ethics Presentation, 2023-24 – This is the slide deck if principals choose to present the training in-person.
• 2023-24 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 also be found at this link:     ESP Testing Ethics Video
• Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Training Signature Form, 2023-24 – Administrators 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.

2023-24 Testing Ethics Professional Development

2023-24 Principal’s Testing Ethics Checklist for ESPs

Standard Test Administration and Testing Ethics Training Signature Form, 2023-24

Testing Ethics Policy

Testing Ethics Presentation, 2023-24 – Ben Jameson (1)