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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.

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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.
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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.

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Published on

TO:
Elementary Principals

FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning

Optional Summer Read-a-Thon Funding Opportunity for Utah Elementary Schools
Sponsored by Utah Community Builders

Dear Elementary School Leaders,

We are excited to announce the launch of our Utah Summer Read-a-Thon Program for Utah elementary schools, sponsored by Utah Community Builders, a program of the Utah Chamber. This summer, we invite schools to spark a love of reading that lasts a lifetime through fun, high-energy literacy experiences that keep students engaged all summer long. Whether through reading challenges, themed events, family literacy nights, or community celebrations, this opportunity is designed to help make reading the highlight of summer for elementary students across Utah.

Funding Opportunity
Selected Utah elementary schools and districts will receive up to $500 to support their Summer Read-a-Thon efforts. Funds may be used for:
* Student incentives and prizes
* Pizza, snacks, or refreshments during read-a-thon
* Event materials and supplies
* Creative and engaging reading activities and experiences

Program Timeline
Applications Open: May 8, 2026
Application Deadline: May 22, 2026
Award Notifications: May 27, 2026
Program Period: June–August 2026
Final Reporting Deadline: one week after the event

Eligibility
Open to all Utah public elementary schools
Programs must take place between June and August 2026

Application Requirements
Schools interested in participating will complete this short application form that includes:
* School and district information
* Primary contact information
* Brief overview of planned Summer Read-a-Thon activities
* Completed W-9 form for payment processing

Post-Program Requirements
To receive and retain funding, participating schools must submit the following after their event:
* Number of students served
* Pages read at the event
* Description of activities completed
* 3–4 photos highlighting participation and impact

Please note: Submission of all follow-up materials is required. Schools that do not complete the required reporting and documentation may be required to return awarded funds to Utah Community Builders by August 7, 2026.

Schools that actively engage, complete all reporting requirements, and build strong partnerships through this initiative will be prioritized for future literacy and community-based funding opportunities. Utah Community Builders has additional literacy initiatives and partnership opportunities planned, and we look forward to continuing to work with schools committed to expanding student reading engagement across Utah.

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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.

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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
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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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Published on

TO:
All Employees

FROM:
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll

ANNUAL/PERSONAL LEAVE DURING THE LAST FIVE DAYS OF SCHOOL
May 29th – June 4th
All Licensed and ESP Employees

Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the last five days of school, unless the leave reason is listed in policy as an exception. If any of the exceptions do apply, you must provide both the leave reason and the policy exception in the time off description. If these exceptions are not applicable, your annual/personal leave day will be changed to a no-pay day as per policy.

DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed
DP335B-Annual Leave-Education Support Professionals

7. Annual leave shall not be taken during the last five (5) days that students are in school except under the following conditions:

a. To attend the wedding of a near relative including child, father, mother, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparents or same to one’s spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household as the employee.
b. To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee’s control.
c. First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.

TEACHER CHECKOUT DAY – JUNE 5
All Licensed Employees

As per District policy, DP335NEG-Annual Leave-Licensed, licensed employees may not take annual/personal leave on the teacher checkout day on June 5th. However, through correlation with the principal, they may arrange to exchange this day for another non-contract day.

TIME TRACKING AND TIME OFF
Last Day of School - June 4

Please make sure all of your Time Tracking and time off is submitted and approved before leaving for summer break.

Last contract day for the 2025-26 school year
June 4th – last day of school (180 days)
June 5th – teacher checkout (184 and 187 days)
June 12th – last day for elementary administrative assistants (206 days)
June 19th – last day for extended teachers/specialists/coordinators (207 days)

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Published on

DATE:
May 7, 2026

TO:
High School Principals, Assistant Principals, Counselors and Registrars

FROM:
Brad Sorensen, Administrator of Schools
Stacee Worthen, Secondary Counseling Specialist
Jacinto Peterson, Principal, Valley High School

SUBJECT:
24-credit Diploma through Valley High School Currently, all seniors who are deficient in the credits required for the traditional 27-credit Jordan School District diploma, as outlined in the Jordan District Credit Guidelines, have the option of transferring to Valley High School for the second semester of their senior year in order to complete a 24-credit diploma.

It was determined, as an alternate option, that Jordan School District students who meet the Utah State graduation requirement of 24 credits, may be eligible to receive a Valley High School diploma at the conclusion of their senior year while remaining enrolled in their boundary school. Students who meet the qualifications required to access this option will work with their counselor and the boundary high school principal, the same way they do with an SEP, to apply for a 24-credit Valley High School diploma.

The attached application will be made available to seniors, through their counselor, who have fallen short of meeting the Jordan School District graduation requirements, but plan to remain at their boundary school throughout their senior year. Students who apply for this diploma will acknowledge and commit to the following, as will their parents, counselor, building principal, and appropriate Administrator of Schools.

  • They are working with their boundary high school counselor and principal to develop a plan to meet the 24 credits required by the state.
  • They acknowledge that they are NOT eligible for early graduation.
  • They acknowledge that they can only walk at the Valley High School graduation ceremony and not their boundary school’s graduation ceremony.
  • Their diploma will be a “Valley High School” diploma and not their boundary school diploma.

Students who have met the 24-credit state requirements will have the option of receiving a Valley High School diploma by transferring their credits to Valley according to the dates on the Critical Dates Memo prior to graduation in order to participate in the Valley High School graduation ceremony. After the graduation date has passed, students are NOT eligible to transfer to Valley High School for a 24-credit diploma. Students may stay at their boundary school and choose to continue to pursue their 27-credit boundary school’s diploma through the summer following their senior year in order to meet the requirements. At a designated date, which cannot be later than September 30th of their graduation year, a boundary school diploma will be issued if all requirements are met.

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Published on

Date:
April 30, 2026

To: 
All Principals
All Budget Directors

From:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets & Audits
April Gaydosh, Administrator, Human Resources
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager, Information Systems
Bonnie Brennan, Director of Insurance Services
Sarah Palmer, Director of Payroll
Kurt Prusse, Director of Purchasing

Subject:
2025-26 Year-End Finance Processing Deadlines

Please observe the attached critical deadlines regarding the financial year-end processes for the 2025-26 school year. Please review these dates as they could have a major impact on your location’s ability to operate.

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Published on

DATE:
April 29, 2026

TO:
Principals
Assistant Principals
School Safety Specialists

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

SUBJECT:
Monthly Drill Preparation (Drill of Choice)

Our monthly drill preparation will be held on May 6th at 2:40 PM, 3:10 PM, and again at 3:40 PM. This month each school will conduct a drill of choice.  Administrators will choose any one of the safety drills previously covered throughout the year.  The intent is to identify the drill where the most training is needed based on the needs of each school. The training will be an overview of conducting drills and the use of SRP.  Each School Safety Specialist is expected to attend along with administrators assigned to oversee school safety.  All other administrators are welcomed to attend as well. The meeting is also open to any staff who may be interested.

After each monthly training all school staff should be trained by the administrator over school safety and the School Safety Specialist. After being trained each month, teachers should educate their students on each safety drill. Additionally, schools should communicate with their patrons regarding Standard Response Protocol(s) (SRP) and the drill being conducted each month. Videos, handouts, and other resources can be found at the link(s) below.

Information regarding Standard Response Protocol and other emergency procedures can be found in the Jordan School District Safety Manual.  This will be an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas amongst the schools.  Consider your school’s identified deficiencies and needed areas of improvement when determining which drill to select.

We will be holding this meeting over ZOOM so please join using this link.

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Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

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

The Jordan School District High School graduation dates and times will vary from school to school. Please see the attached 2025-26 High School Graduation Schedule.

Principals and Directors are encouraged to provide flexibility to parents or grandparents requesting the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremonies of family members.

Licensed employees are responsible for requesting a substitute through the Frontline Absence Management System, if applicable. In the blue “Notes to Administrator” box, the employee should add “graduation” along with his/her relationship to the graduate.

For additional assistance, please contact suboffice@jordandistrict.org.

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Published on

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources

The following information pertains to Intern Educators, Intern Psychologists, or Intern Counselors graduating in 2026 that are assigned to your location.

Please excuse full time intern educators (BYU, U of U and UVU), intern school psychologists, and intern counselors to attend their own in-person Commencement OR Convocation ceremonies. They are eligible to enter their absence in Skyward under the “Other” Leave Code and the Absence Reason of, “District Excused”. Only one day can be coded as District Excused, and
should reflect their commencement or convocation date. Please confirm this date prior to approving in skyward. The following information should be included in the description in Skyward ‘0050- Intern In-Person Graduation UNIVERSITY NAME'.

The intern is responsible for requesting a substitute, if needed, through the Frontline Absence Management System. The absence reason entered should be ‘District Excused’ and in the blue notes to administrator box, the intern should add the following information; ‘District Excused 0050- Intern in- person graduation UNIVERSITY NAME’.

If you have questions as to whether your Intern has entered the time off in Skyward or Frontline appropriately, please contact suboffice@jordandistrict.org.

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Published on

DATE:
April 28, 2026

TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants

FROM:
April Gaydosh, Administrator of Human Resources

SUBJECT:
Administrative Assignments

New Assignments effective July 2026:

Elementary School

  • Tiffany Smith Riverton Elementary
    Tiffany Smith, previously transferred as Principal to Heartland Elementary, transferred as Principal to Riverton Elementary replacing Shauna Worthington who has resigned.
  • Toni Lasater Heartland Elementary
    Toni Lasater, Assistant Principal at Oak Leaf Elementary, appointed Principal at Heartland Elementary.
  • Amber Allen Oak Leaf Elementary
    Amber Allen, Assistant Principal at Butterfield Canyon Elementary, transferred as Assistant Principal to Oak Leaf Elementary.
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Published on

Date:
April 30, 2026  

To:
Administrators of Locations with Employees Paid with Federal Dollars 

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

Subject:
Federal Program Work Certification

Federal Regulations require the district to certify the payroll of any employee being paid with federal funds. Accounting identifies employees that meet this federal criteria and prepares certification forms by location. Principals and department heads please review the attached instruction memo and look for your payroll certification email the week of May 1, 2026. Certifications are due Friday, May 22, 2026.

Please review your certification ASAP and contact Natalie Grange if you have any questions or concerns. natalie.grange@jordandistrict.org, ext. 88312.

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