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Published on

DATE: 
August 24, 2023

TO: 
Principals
Assistant Principals
Panorama Users

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

SUBJECT:  
**NEW** Panorama MTSS Referrals

A new feature for MTSS Student Support Referrals in Panorama releases on August 23, 2023. This new feature will allow teachers to refer students to MTSS teams/Administration for interventions. The feature also allows teachers and administrators to track the MTSS interventions.

A preview video can be seen here.

Feel free to share this link with your teachers. More guided information can be obtained in Panorama Academy as well.

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Published on

DATE:
Thursday, August 17, 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

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.

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Special Education Resource and Self Contained Team Leaders will soon receive a SCRAM report via District Mail of all students who should be receiving services through your school’s special education program(s) at the start of the 2023-24 school year. All team members and service providers need to verify each student on this list as either correct, changed, exited/moved, and/or incomplete. Since only one copy is being sent per “team” (i.e., Resource and Cluster), it is important that resource teams, cluster teams, SLPs, Guidance Specialists and other itinerant providers work together to check and complete the requested information. Please read the memo carefully for instructions on completing the report.

Please have your Scram Reports and corrected SCRAM returned to the District Office by Friday, September 8, 2023.

If you have questions, please contact the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school or Jen Warkentine at (801) 567-8207. Thank you for your conscientious efforts to complete this critical information. Please remember that special education funding is contingent upon the accuracy of this data.

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On September 22, 2023 the Panorama Team will be in Jordan District to conduct in-person training for interested schools. This training will focus on both the Student Success and the Positive Behavior module integrates with Panorama’s Student Success. Multiple sessions will be offered. More information to come!!!

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Attached are the special education budget allocations for Resource, Self-Contained Teachers and Speech-Language Pathologists for the 2023-24 school year. (Cluster Leaders do not receive a Special Education budget.) Remember that special education monies must be spent in ways that provide the most benefit to special education students with the goal to improve student achievement and performance. It will be up to you, your team, and your school principal/financial secretary to keep track of how much of your budget you have spent individually.

Please note equipment purchases, electronic games and/or any materials that are not instructional in nature must be pre-approved from the Special Education Department. Equipment purchases that are not pre-approved will not be reimbursed. Requests must include the approval from your teacher specialist.

When submitting requisitions, follow Skyward procedures and guidelines. Requisitions for the 2023-24 school year can be submitted anytime between July 1, 2023 and March 1, 2024. The final deadline for all purchasing requests, reimbursement requests, E-checks and P-Card purchases is March 1, 2024. This deadline will not be extended.

If you have questions regarding your Special Education budget, please call Amanda Hamblin at (801) 567-8177 or the Teacher Specialist assigned to your school.

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The 2023 ESSA Updated English Learner (EL) Exit criteria has been approved. Please review your 2022 WIDA ACCESS results and exit all students who received a minimum overall composite score of 4.2 and a minimum score of 3.5 in the speaking domain. Exit letters, based on the updated exit criteria, must be sent within the first 30 days of the LEAs school year.

Teacher-parent-students conferences must be completed by the conclusion of the LEA’s scheduled fall conferences. Students that were exited with a composite of 5.0 or higher in the spring will remain exited. More information will be provided in upcoming listserv memos and in meetings.

Things to adjust:
Class schedule
ESL study skills course
Placing students in the correct LA course
Placing students in any concurrent AP courses that they have applied and
qualified for

How do you print the letters?
Check out how to create and print the letters through ELLevation here.

Mailing letters home is usually delegated to a secretary/registrar with enrollment access
with the help of ELD Leads if needed.

  1. Make 2 physical copies of each ML's 2023 WIDA Scores (Delivered personally
    by the Evaluation, Research, & Accountability department)
  2. Print Letters from ELLevation (be sure to save a copy to student profiles for
    your records)
  3. Print labels for MLs and prepare envelopes
  4. Mail letters and scores to families in English and their home language
  5. Place 2nd copy of scores in students' permanent files

THIS ANNUAL COMMUNICATION IS PART OF COMPLIANCE.

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Your Assignments for the SSH Committee Schedule are on the attached document. Please make every effort to attend on your assigned day. If there are any conflicts with your schedule please contact Janie Hyde, 801-567-8326 as soon as possible. We look forward to serving with you!

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We are excited to announce Google Single Sign-On for both students and teachers for the following products:

  • HMH ED (Growth Measure)
  • Think Central
  • iReady
  • Beanstack

Once students and teachers are logged into their Google account, they will be able to navigate to these products through the “waffle” - Google Apps button. (Just like they already do for Canva, Canvas, Yuja, etc.) This change is already in effect. 

Attached you will find login instructions. If teachers receive an error message when trying to login, please have them reach out to the Help Desk.

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The final sessions for Unit 8 training are now available on MIDAS. Please note that this is the last training that will be offered for those who are taking their training through USBE. USBE has set September 15th as the date that everything should be completed by. If there are teachers who have missed previous units, it is recommended to complete the training for unit 8 at this time. Units can be completed out of order if necessary. Below is the registration information:

Unit 8, MIDAS #60790 (General Registration) March 2023 through September 2023

No additional unit 8 sections will be added after this unit has ended.

MIDAS enrollment link

Please note that educators are responsible for ensuring that their MIDAS transcripts are accurate. Any inquiries pertaining to transcripts that are missing USBE credit for the LETRS state initiative, must be emailed to norma.mata@schools.utah.gov and must include the following information:

Educators full name (no abbreviations or nick names please)
CACTUS ID number
LETRS Unit they are missing credit for
Date of training
Copy of the email that includes their Certificate of Attendance

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Published on

DATE: 
Thursday, August 17, 2023

TO: 
Middle and High School Administrators

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

SUBJECT: 
2022-23 AP Results Updated in Tableau

The AP Analysis Dashboard has been updated with 2022-23 AP exam data in Tableau. School administrators may access both district and school dashboards here.

School administrators will be able to view participation rates, pass rates, and a distribution of scores by school, discipline, and assessment from 2016 to 2023. In addition, the dashboard also contains scores by AP teacher and student.

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions about the AP Analysis Dashboard.

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Published on

DATE:  
Thursday, August 17, 2023

TO: 
Elementary School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:   
Research Project

The Research Review Committee has reviewed a research project in which your school has been asked to participate.

Project Title: Exploring the Role of Qualitative Methods in the Implementation of Evidence-based Practices in Public Schools

Applicant: Tyler Christopulos, University of Utah

The project has been approved by the District Research Review Committee. The applicant has been directed to contact you to discuss the extent of the project and to obtain your permission to conduct the study at your school. Participation in the study is at your discretion. If you have questions or concerns relating to participation, please contact Ben Jameson at 801-567-8243.

The study will involve your kindergarten teachers and speech language pathologist who will participate in a 10-minute online survey.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

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The following are new administrative assignments:

  • New Assignments effective immediately:
    • Brooke Anderson, teacher specialist in Evaluation, Research & Accountability appointed Data Scientist in the Evaluation, Research & Accountability Department.
    • John Sassman, assistant principal at Copper Canyon Elementary assigned assistant principal at Herriman Elementary, replacing Shana Mondragon who resigned.
    • Kimberly Ranney, assistant principal at Bluffdale Elementary assigned assistant principal at Copper Canyon Elementary.
    • Sharra Palmer, administrative intern at Copper Mountain Middle and Mountain Creek Middle assigned administrative intern at Bluffdale Elementary.
    • Jody Long, assistant principal previously at Joel P Jensen Middle assigned assistant principal at Copper Mountain Middle and Mountain Creek Middle.
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Published on

DATE:      
August 9, 2023

TO:  
All Principals

FROM:   
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator

SUBJECT:  
Additional Embrace Training Days

We are excited for the new IEP management system, Embrace. Many teachers and administrators attended the Special Education Summer Conference on August 8th and received initial training on the new IEP platform. For those that were not able to attend, there will be two additional training sessions. The content will be the same for both sessions, so you can choose the session that works best for your schedule.

The two training sessions will be held on:
Friday, August 18, 2023 at Riverton High School from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Friday, September 22, 2023 at West Jordan High School from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

You may choose either day to attend. Please sign up on JPLS to confirm your attendance at one of these two training sessions.

The course number is #101959 and the section numbers are:
#127704 @ RHS August 18, 2023 12-3pm
#127706 @ WJHS September 22, 2023 1-4pm

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Published on

DATE:    
August 7, 2023

TO:  
All Principals

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

SUBJECT: 
Providing a Consistent Space for Itinerant Service Providers

As the school year begins, please be mindful that the itinerant service providers assigned to your school require a consistent and viable space to work with the students that they are assigned to in your school. Please see attached memo. We appreciate your support in these efforts.
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Administrators,

As a reminder, the New Educator Induction is tomorrow! Please join us on the West Jordan Middle School patio to take part in celebrating and welcoming our new educators as they arrive.

Please Note:

Parking is limited, so to ensure that the new educators receive the best parking we are asking that you carpool and park in the LDS church parking lot located at 1899 W 7600 S, West Jordan, UT 84084 or Majestic Arts Academy located at: 7430 S Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84084.

CLAP IN (7:10 am-8:15 am) 

  • The "clap in" will take place in front of West Jordan Middle School
  • Teachers will begin arriving around 7:10 and the program will begin at 8:00 so any time within this window would be appropriate to be present
  • Wear your school or JSD attire and come help cheer on our new teachers
  • Everyone is welcome, but it is not required

If you are unable to attend the Clap In, you are welcome to join us at the end of the day:

CLAP OUT (1:45 pm-2:15 pm)

  • The "clap out" will also take place in front of West Jordan Middle School
  • Wear your school or JSD attire and come help cheer out our new teachers
  • Everyone is welcome, but it is not required
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The August/September Assistant Principal meetings will be held on August 31 (8:00-11:00am) and September 7 (8:00-11:00am). All meetings will be held in-person at the JATC-S. All assistant principals and intern assistant principals are invited. A beverage service will be provided, beginning at 7:30 am at each of the meetings. As a reminder you only need to attend one of the sessions offered. Both sessions will provide the same information. Please CLICK HERE and it will take you to the Google Doc to sign up for which day you would like to attend. If you have any questions please call Nadine Page at 801-567-8182 (x88182). Thank you!

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Published on

DATE: 
July 27, 2023

TO:
All Elementary Principals

FROM:     
Administrators of Schools
Carolyn Gough, Administrator, Teaching and Learning Department
Norman Emerson, Instructional Support Services/Fine Arts Consultant

SUBJECT:   
Utah Symphony Performance at Riverton High School for 4th Grade Students

We are pleased to announce Utah Symphony concerts for your 4th grade students at Riverton High School. The performance dates are November 6 and 7, 2023 at 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Your school’s date and time to attend the performance are provided on the attached spreadsheet. School groups will be seated upon arrival.

Study materials for use in preparing your students will be provided by the Utah Symphony prior to the performance.

Please have your administrative assistant complete a transportation request on Skyward (your school's date and time shown on spreadsheet). The number of teachers (which may also include a parent and two chaperones for each class) should be included in your school’s final count. When entering your busing request, please include the correct group name (e.g. Daybreak, 115 Curr). This will ensure that the Teaching and Learning Department will cover the busing fee.

Transportation requests should be completed as soon as possible. Due to the number of buses that need to be used for the Symphony concerts, there will be a moratorium on other transportation requests for these dates.

 

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