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Category: Middle Schools

Published on

DATE:
November 11, 2015

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals

FROM:   
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist

SUBJECT:  
LEA Training Part 2 – Special Education Law and Practices

The next Special Education training opportunity for Principals and Assistant Principals will be held on January 20, 2016. Sessions will be held in the District Office Room 129. We will be discussing Special Education Law and Practices related to IEP Implementation and Disciplinary Removal of students with disabilities. Please plan to attend one of the two sessions offered.

Special Education Law and Practices:
IEP Implementation and Disciplinary Removal
January 20, 2016
District Office Room 129
Session 1:  9:00 AM
Session 2: 1:00 PM

 

Published on

Parental Exclusions from State Assessments (Opt-Out) Procedures 2015-16

USOE has created an opt-out form for parents who do not want their student to participate in state-mandated assessments.  The USOE opt-out form is titled 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments.  A link to the form has been posted on the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department’s webpage:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/ .  An additional link to the opt-out form has been placed on the Jordan School District’s webpage in the “General Information” section under the “Parents and Students” tab.  The General Information link is titled “Parental Exclusion (Opt-Out)”.    http://jordandistrict.org/parents-students/generalinfo/.

Parents or guardians who choose to not have their student participate in one or more state-mandated assessments can download the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form from either of the above links, complete and sign the form, and return the completed form to the school principal.  The completed form needs to be submitted to the principal before the date scheduled for the state-mandated assessment(s).

A parent’s use of the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form is not mandatory.  If a parent or guardian chooses to not complete, sign and submit the form, or if the parent/guardian submits a different opt-out document, the principal should contact the parent or guardian to determine which 2015-16 state-mandated assessment(s) the parent does not want their student to participate in.  The principal should then mark the assessment(s) on a 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should make a notation on the form of their conversation with the parent and indicate that the parent chose to not complete and/or sign the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form.  The principal should attach any applicable documents or email communications from the parent to the 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form and maintain a folder of the completed forms and documents.

Finally, principals need to provide a copy of the completed 2015-16 Parental Exclusion from State Assessments form to the school’s testing coordinator.  The testing coordinator should be directed to 1) make necessary changes in the SAGE TIDE system and 2) inform the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department, using the established Google Docs procedure, that the student is being opted out of the specified state-mandated assessment(s).  If the testing coordinator needs help with this Google Docs procedure, she/he can reference the two videos posted on the Evaluation, Research, and Accountability Department’s webpage under the “Testing Coordinators” tab:  http://assessments.jordandistrict.org/testing-coordinators/.

Published on
The 2015-16 Emergency Procedures and Contacts manual (commonly known as the "Red Book") will be shared with you on Google Drive in an effort to keep this critical information readily available.  You should have already received hard copies of the manual through district mail. We believe that sharing the manual electronically, in a safe manner, makes it even more accessible if needed.
At this time, only JSD administrators have been included.  In the event you would like to share the manual with your administrative assistant and/or head custodian, please email a request to share to Peggy Margetts at peggy.margetts@jordandistrict.org.  Also, if your current contact information changes, please send Peggy updates immediately so she can keep the contact information as current as possible.  Feel free to contact Peggy at 801-567-8753 with any questions.

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The testing window for SLO pre-tests will close November 13.  All teachers, except those who have chosen to take their Spring 2015 SAGE MGP for their student growth component, will need to have SLO pre-tests administered by November 13.  Student growth is a yearly component teachers must demonstrate as part of the total educator effectiveness score.

Published on

DATE:
October 27, 2015

TO:
School Principals

FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator

SUBJECT:
Donation Acknowledgments

 

As a reminder, the District has a procedure for acknowledging receipt of funds from individuals or groups who donate money to benefit various school programs (see pages 44-47 of the Financial Accounting Manual).  When a school receives a monetary donation of $250 or more, please notify me so that a letter can be prepared and sent to the individual or group to acknowledge receipt of the funds.  A copy of the acknowledgement letter will be sent to you for your files.

To help with the preparation of the letter, please provide me with the following:

  1. A copy of the check.
  2. A copy of the school receipt.
  3. If the letter should be addressed to someone other than the name(s) on the check, please provide that information.
  4. Purpose of the donation (i.e., the name of the school club or group benefiting from the donation).
  5. State whether or not goods or services were provided to the donor as a result of the donation (i.e., did the donor benefit?).

Thank you for your assistance.

Published on

DATE:
October 22, 2015

TO:
Principals
All Special Educators and Related Service Providers

FROM:
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum/Staff Development & Special Programs
Lisa Robinson, Director of Special Education
Julie Brown, Program Specialist-Special Education

SUBJECT:
IMPORTANT DEADLINE--PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY
SCRAM Data Due BY THE END OF DAY Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Returning D Track Clusters are Due NO LATER than Friday, November 20, 2015
Updating SCRAM for December 1 Funding Count

 

We are fast approaching our December 1 SCRAM count deadline.   Please remember that our funding and other critical data are generated from these counts.  It is important that all information be accurate and current.  The attached report reflects the SCRAM and IEP Services we have received to date.  Please check to see that all students who are currently receiving services are on the SCRAM printout and that all information has been submitted correctly.  Submit a new SCRAM document for any changes.

This report reflects students served during the current school year.   Carefully review the following:

o   Please check that the names, entry dates, service patterns and providers are correct for each student on the printout.  If the information is correct for all service providers, put a check mark (√) in front of the student’s name.  The printout reflects the school’s current special education caseload.

o     If a student being served in special education is not on SCRAM, please submit a new SCRAM document BY THE END OF DAY Wednesday, November 11, 2015.  If they are not on this printout, they are not on record as receiving services at your school.

o   Cross out any students who are not receiving services at your school and submit a SCRAM document with the correct exit date and exit code reason. The exit date is the day after the last day the student receives the services listed.  The new SCRAM entry date will be the same as the exit date.  Please note that the entry date for a student coming from another school who enters your setting during the year is the first date that the student enters the new school (this will be the first date of service).  Remember that there should be no delay in services (violation of IDEA and we lose days of funding).

o     If you are not aware of a student that is listed on the printout (and the student has not been exited from services), you should follow-up with that student who is now in your building.  Many teams are not aware of students who have entered their school and should be receiving services.  A SCRAM document should be submitted which either identifies the services the student will receive or which exits the student from services (procedures must be followed for terminating a student from services).

o   If the IEP team has changed a student’s services, the changes must be documented on the services section of the IEP and a new SCRAM document must be submitted.  Remember that parents must be involved in any decision to amend IEP services and must receive a copy of the revised IEP.

o   Any SCRAM document submitted must reflect all current IEP services.  Every section of the form must be filled out completely or the student’s record cannot be submitted to the State for funding (this includes the classification, all services and amount of time, entry/exit dates, environment and regular percent codes, health services, etc.).  If information is missing, the record will not be sent to the State for funding counts.

Special Education Resource Teams are being sent one complete list of all students in the school who are being served by resource, speech-language, guidance and/or OT, PT, itinerant teachers for the hearing impaired or visually impaired, etc.  Please review and sign the list with ALL team members before sending it back to the SCRAM office.

Cluster Teams are being sent one complete list of all cluster students in the school who are being served by the cluster, speech-language, guidance and/or OT, PT, itinerant teachers for the hearing impaired or visually impaired, etc.   Please review and sign the list with ALL cluster team members before sending it back to the SCRAM office.

All primary SLP and Guidance services will be included on the master list sent to Special Education Resource Teams.  If the provider is serving two different schools, the services will be included on the master list at each school.  Teams are expected to work together to review and complete all required SCRAM information.

SCRAM corrections may be sent through District Mail to the SCRAM Secretary as long as they arrive in the Special Education office by the due date.  If the current report is correct as printed, each team member must sign the report, verifying that it is accurate and return it to the SCRAM Secretary in the Special Education Department at the District Office. If you have questions, please call the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school.  Please sign and return the current report with all corrections/changes marked along with the corresponding SCRAM documents by the following due date:

Due:  By 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Returning D Track Clusters Due Date:

NO LATER than 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2015

Reminders:

It is critical that information be received by the specified due dates so that all data can be entered by the December 1 due date.

Note
1)  Remember that all IEPs should be completed using the web-based Goalview IEP system and any changes must be reported using the IEP SCRAM Services document.

2)  In the event that a hard copy IEP was used and there are changes to the services listed on the printout, be sure to submit the IEP SCRAM Services document AND enter the hard copy IEP onto the Goalview system.

Private School/Home School Students
If you are providing services to a student who is enrolled in a private school or home school, make sure you have submitted a copy of the Private School and/or Home School Individualized Services Plan (ISP) and a copy of the student service logs to Julie Brown by the Wednesday, November 11, 2015 due date. Private school and/or home school students must be entered on the system differently.

Funding Implications
Special education funding and, therefore, school staffing/assistant allocations, etc. are contingent upon the accuracy of this data.  Your timely and accurate response is critical!  Thank you for all your efforts to get us the correct information in a very short time period.

 

Published on

DATE:
October 22, 2015

TO:
Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services
Steven Harwood System/Programming Manager

SUBJECT:
Fall Enrollment as of October 1, 2015

 

See attached memo.

Published on

Student Intervention Services department applied for an Anti-Bullying grant and received the funding.  With that funding we have purchased magnets with JSD definition of bullying for every single student.  This will help administrators clarify to parents who say their child is being bullied. They will be sent to the school via our JSD mail.  We have included a sample letter in the packet you will receive if the school would like to use it or modify it.  We have also purchased signs for our PLT (high school) teams to use in their anti-bullying presentations to the feeder elementaries. Jeani Mulliner has delivered those.  In addition we have purchased signs for every classroom and every office with the definition.

Published on

Improve your tech skills and have some fun too! (?)

What, When, Where, and Who

The following technology classes are offered at the ASB (Auxillary Services Building, 7905 S. Redwood Rd.). On most Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 pm (rooms are noted below). These are available to all secondary teachers and administrators. Registration is required in JPLS.

Google Apps for Education: Basics

Oct 28, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 113, ASB

  • A two-hour overview of what are the google apps and what can they do in a classroom and for a teacher.

Google Apps for Education: Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawing)

Nov 4, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 113, ASB

  • Focus in on the four main apps in Google Drive. How to use them to influence your teaching and students.

Google Apps for Education: Drive (Forms, Surveys and Flubaroo)

Nov 11, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 103

  • Create and use forms for surveys, quizzes and tests. Use Flubaroo and other apps to grade, record and communicate those grades.

Google Apps for Education: Google Sites (Create)

Nov 18, 3:30-5:30 pm, 113, ASB

  • Create your own class, club or group website using Google Sites.

Google Apps for Education: Google Sites (Improve)

Dec 2, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 105, ASB

  • You already have a Google site but want to make it better. In this class you will use additional features to Improve your own website using Google Sites.

Google Apps for Education: YouTube

Dec 9, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 103, ASB

  • More than watching viral cat videos you can create your own YouTube Channel where you can store your favorite vids for class and even do simple edits. This can be private or shared… amazing resource.

UEN Resources: Tools and Resources

Dec 16, 3:30-5:30 pm, PDC 113, ASB

  • Discover the of tools and resources provided by Utah Education Network and great ways to use them in your classroom.

Published on

In an effort to streamline processes and improve internal controls, all open purchase orders to Office Depot will be closed November 2, 2015.  Effective immediately, orders to Office Depot should be placed on the Office Depot website (https://business.officedepot.com) using a District P-Card.  Please contact Heather Ellingson at ext. 8388 with any questions.

Published on

TO:
All Principals, Registrars, Attendance Secretaries, and Elementary Secretaries, Homeless Liaison, Nutrition Services

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Associate Superintendent
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning & Student Services

Many families live in different situations and several of those living circumstances may qualify the family for a McKinney Vento enrollment.  To determine this enrollment, the family must complete the Student Residency Questionnaire and lunch application either online or in paper format at the school.  If the patron qualifies under McKinney Vento, enroll the student considering the following.

  1. When entering the student into Skyward and the legal guardian is enrolling:
    • Family #1 is the legal guardian with the current address of where they are residing.
  2. When entering the student into Skyward and the caregiver does not have Durable Power of Attorney:
    • Family #1 is the student – relationship is McKinney Vento - with the current address of where they are residing.  This will help everyone with Skyward access to know the circumstances of the initial enrollment and help the school protect the child’s FERPA rights.
    • Family #2 is the child’s legal guardian and a contact information if it is available. If the legal guardian information is not available, enter the caregiver in Family #2.
    • Family #3 is the caregiver – relationship is McKinney Vento – with their address and contact information. Once a Durable Power of Attorney is obtained, move the caregiver to Family #1 in place of the student.
  3. When entering a student into Skyward with a caregiver who has a Durable Power of Attorney:
    • Family #1 is the caregiver – relationship is McKinney Vento – with their address and contact information.
    • Family #2 is the legal guardian and contact information if it is available.

NOTE:

  • Legal Guardianship is awarded through the courts determines who is placed in the Family #1 position.
  • If the status of the student’s enrollment changes, (a Durable Power of Attorney is obtained after initial enrollment) the Family information and the relationship on the Family screen will also need to be updated.

NEW:  Two new relationship fields were added in Skyward:

  • McKinney Vento
  • Migrant

Once the enrollment is complete and to facilitate a smooth transition for the child into school, please fax a copy of the Student Residency Questionnaire and the lunch application to the Homeless Liaison at 801-567-8073 and to Nutrition Services at 801-567-8768.    If a lunch application was not needed, only fax to the Homeless Liaison.

All of this information should be held confidential and protected.  We hope this information is helpful when enrolling a student under McKinney Vento with lunch applications.  Please contact Planning & Student Services with any questions.

Skyward Report available for schools to print regarding McKinney Vento are:

  • Family Residency Report – Online Registration -- the Path is: Families/Jordan Additions/Registration Reports
  • McKinney Vento – available in Data Mining.

Published on

DATE:
August 4, 2015

TO:
Administrators of Schools
All Elementary and Secondary Principals
All Elementary and Secondary Lunch Managers

FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Jana Cruz, Director of Nutrition Services

SUBJECT:
Removing Food from School Kitchens

See attached memo.

 

Published on

DATE:
July 14, 2015

TO:
Jordan School District Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Luann Leavitt, Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:
Release of "Directory Information" under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

See attached memo.

 

Published on

DATE:
July 6, 2015

TO:
All Principals

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum & Staff Development
Travis Hamblin, Human Resources
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:
Dates for 1st and 6th Day Counts

See attached memo.

 

Published on

DATE:
July 6, 2015

TO:
All Principals
Elementary Head Secretaries
Registrars
Attendance Secretaries

FROM:
Administrators of Schools
Laura Finlinson, Administrator of Curriculum & Staff Development
Luann Leavitt, Consultant of Planning and Student Services

SUBJECT:
Enrollment 2015-16

See attached memo.