TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager
See the attached instructions to disable student access to YouTube.
Critical Needs Requests for Additional Instructional Assistants for 2025-26
DATE:
March 5, 2025
TO:
All Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
SUBJECT:
Special Education Resource Instructional Assistants for 2025-26
Special Education Support Class Instructional Assistants for 2025-26
This memo is designed to explain how special education instructional assistants can be requested and will be allocated to each schools’ special education program(s) for the 2025-26 school year. If you have any questions, please contact your assigned teacher specialist or program administrator. We want to make sure everyone has the support staff necessary to meet student’s individual IEP needs. Please follow the attached directions carefully and have the needed information returned to your teacher specialist by the due date.
Critical Needs Requests due to your teacher specialist by Friday, March 28, 2025.
Special Education Newsletter- March 2025
TO:
All Administrators
Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Brian King, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Special Education
Mike Trimmell, Ed.D., Special Education Administrator
Attached is the Special Ed Newsletter for March 2025.
College Board AP In-Person Institute Available for Teachers
TO:
Administrators
AP Program Coordinators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Associate Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Davis School District sponsors Utah's only College Board endorsed summer training - the Intermountain AP Summer Institute. In 2025 an IN-PERSON institute will be held July 8-11, 8:00am - 4:00pm.
College Board consultants from across the country will be facilitating sessions.
Two hours of graduate credit is offered through Weber State University for only $30.
Session and registration information can be found on the institute's registration website at
https://eventreg.collegeboard.org/event/bc00ba0b-3036-47a4-ab22-a857ce4dd10c/summary
College Board AP Online Institute Available for Teachers
TO:
Administrators
AP Program Coordinators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Chris Richards-Khong, Associate Administrator of Teaching and Learning
In 2025 Davis School District will sponsor an online-institute to be held June 9-12. College Board consultants from across the country will be facilitating sessions. Sessions will be conducted via Zoom and consist of both synchronous and asynchronous instruction and activities.
The Intermountain AP Summer Institute-ONLINE offers 14 sessions. Two hours of graduate credit is offered through Weber State University for only $30. Session and registration information can be found on the institute's registration website at https://eventreg.collegeboard.org/event/f63e4603-a641-4ef5-b321-161e040970a2/home-page
Color Brave Conference
TO:
Middle School Administrators
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
Language and Culture Services is excited to share about our upcoming Color Brave Conference for middle school students. Please share the attached flier with any advisors or teachers at your school who work with multicultural councils, culture clubs, or affinity groups. We hope to have seven to ten students from each middle school attend. If you do not have any established multicultural clubs or affinity groups at your school, please let us know. We still want to invite students from your school to attend. We are also happy to provide support in establishing these organizations at your school.
Teacher Recruitment Scholarship
TO:
Elementary Principals
Elementary Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Michelle Love-Day, Director of Language & Culture Services
The goal of the Teacher Recruitment Scholarship is to increase the number of teachers in Wasatch Front schools whose backgrounds could best support underrepresented students in the K-12 school system. This scholarship supports students from a broad range of backgrounds to become teachers and return to their communities as educational leaders and mentors for future generations. Through the Jordan Education Foundation and SLCC, students can receive tuition assistance, books paid for, and funding towards a 4-year university after completing coursework through SLCC. Application deadline is March 31st.
Introducing ParentSquare Pointers
TO:
All Administrators
All Administrative Assistants
FROM:
Steffany Ellsworth, Support Services Manager
ParentSquare Pointers are your periodic dose of ParentSquare tips and tricks delivered via JAM/JEM. This first edition is all about ParentSquare ALERTS!
Safe Walking Routes – West Jordan Schools Only
DATE:
March 5, 2025
TO:
Principals - City of West Jordan
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
Matt Alvernaz, School Safety Coordinator
SUBJECT:
Safe Routes To School Meeting Sign Up (West Jordan Schools ONLY)
The City of West Jordan is prepared to meet with each administration to discuss your Safe Routes To School.
The meetings will be held on March 19th from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM over ZOOM. Each meeting will be held in 10-minute increments. Please select a time slot on the SIGN-UP sheet provided. Times are on a first come first served basis. Feel free to work with one another as needed.
If more time is required to discuss an issue in depth, then we will schedule another time with the city to do so.
Take a moment to review your district SRTS form and ensure it is accurate and complete as the city will need to review it.
For any additional assistance or clarification please contact Matt Alvernaz at matt.alvernaz@jordandistrict.org or by phone at 801-567-8623.
ZOOM Link
SIGN-UP Link
What’s the Latest from Teaching and Learning – March 2025
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Check out the links below for the latest updates from Teaching & Learning for March. Learn tips and tricks, sign up for upcoming PD, and learn about important updates from the T & L team.
Digital Teaching and Learning Survey
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
The USBE Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Grant provides opportunities and tools for teachers in Jordan School District to address and close student achievement gaps through the use of high quality instruction that integrates technology. This survey will help us determine technology training and hardware/software needs for the 2025-2026 school year. Use the links below to complete the end of year DTL Survey from USBE. Survey is due April 9, 2025.
Admin Link for Survey - https://www.metirisurveys.com/se/601EA2D53C7D99AC
Teacher Link for Survey - https://www.metirisurveys.com/se/601EA2D57A84FAFE
Elementary P.E. SHAPE Conference Registration
TO:
Elementary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Consider sending your P.E. teacher/ESP to the SHAPE Conference, where they can attend numerous breakout sessions specific to their content. Examples of sessions include: games, behavior management, adaptive strategies, ML Support and more. You can sign up your teacher by completing the form, and the district will pay for their registration. The school will be responsible for covering classes and hourly pay.
The Shape Conference is a full day event on March 10, 2025. You can sign up your teacher by completing this form.
SHAPE Utah Website: https://www.shapeutah.org/
High School P.E. Assess for Success
TO:
High School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
Consider sending at least one P.E. teacher to represent your school for a professional development day dedicated to enhancing assessment practices in physical education. This session will focus on developing consistent and reliable assessment tools that align with shared learning objectives and standards. Participants will collaborate to create assessments that accurately measure student progress and performance. By unifying our assessment approaches, we aim to ensure fairness and clarity in evaluating student achievement, ultimately supporting improved outcomes in physical education. The district will provide funding for a substitute for ONE P.E. teacher per school, but all high school P.E. teachers are welcome. Please share this information with your P.E. teachers.
Secondary Health – Vertical Vision
TO:
Secondary Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Amanda Bollinger, Associate Administrator, Teaching & Learning
On April 10, 2025, Middle School and High School Health teachers will work collaboratively on vertical alignment, pacing, and instructional strategies in Health. The district will provide funding for a substitute for ONE Health teacher per school, but all secondary Health teachers are welcome. Please share this information with your Health teachers.
School External Auditor Visits March 17-24, 2025
DATE:
March 3, 2025
TO:
Applicable School Principals and Administrative Assistants
All Area Administrators of Schools and Administrative Assistants
FROM:
John Larsen, Business Administrator
Daniel Ellis, Director of Accounting, Budgets and Audits
Natalie Grange, Accounting Administrator
SUBJECT:
School External Auditor Visits March 17-24, 2025
The external auditors (Squire & Company, PC) will be visiting the following schools on the dates indicated. They will be reviewing school fees (appropriate amount charged, waivers, etc.) and financial information. Once finished, the auditors will want a few minutes with the Principal. If the Principal is unavailable, an Assistant Principal may meet with them. The auditors are planning on coming to the schools in the order listed. Exact times of arrival will vary depending on length of stay at earlier schools and travel time. If you have any questions or if your administrative assistant will not be available, please call Natalie Grange at (801) 567-8312.
PD Training: Assessing Student with Canvas and Mastery Connect
TO:
Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching & Learning
Jared Covili, Consultant in Teaching & Learning
Need help with Canvas and Mastery Connect as you assess students in your classroom? Digital Teaching and Learning would like to invite you to attend an optional PD training to help you use Canvas and Mastery Connect to its fullest potential.
Please bring your device and your questions to learn along with DTL and Instructure.
What: Assessing Students with Canvas and Mastery Connect: Optional PD Training
When: 1 - 3 p.m. on Mar. 14
Where: Herriman High Tech Atrium
Who: All Teachers Interested in Canvas/Mastery Connect
RSVP: https://forms.gle/W1zgDaUuN69kwex39
Safety Talk: Chemical Safety
TO:
All Administrators
FROM:
Scott Thomas, Administrator of Auxiliary Services
Brandon Conti, Risk Management Coordinator
All chemicals used at work, even “household” chemicals, should be considered potentially hazardous. Always understand the hazards of any chemical that you are using.
See the flyer below for more information.
Secondary Summative Testing Changes 2024-25
DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
Middle and High School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
REMINDER: Summative Testing Changes for 2024-25
With the change in the ELA core approved by the Utah State Board of Education in recent months, the state’s summative assessments will now reflect those changes. The changes to RISE and the Utah Aspire Plus are highlighted below:
Utah Aspire Plus:
- The English subtest will no longer be administered. Only the Reading, Math and Science subtests will be administered.
- USBE, under recommendation from the Assessment & Accountability Policy Advisory Committee, has opted to not go through the standard setting process over the summer as they had originally intended. Therefore, Utah Aspire Plus proficiency reporting will be available within 24 hours after students complete and submit the assessment. Proficiency reporting, composite scale scores, and predicted ACT scores will be available for Math, Reading and Science. There will be no ELA proficiency reporting.
Please see the attached Utah Aspire Plus updates document released by USBE for more information.
RISE:
- The summative RISE ELA assessment and the summative RISE Writing assessment (5th and 8th grades only) have been revised according to the new ELA core. Scores for the summative RISE ELA and summative RISE Writing will not be available until fall 2025. Automatic scoring for both summative assessments will resume in the 2025-26 school year.
- Scoring for RISE Math and Science will still be available after students complete and submit the assessment.
- For RISE ELA and Math, students will see up to one cluster question (see Feb. 6th JAM). The RISE Math cluster questions will be field test items. The RISE ELA cluster questions will be actual questions that count towards students’ scores.
- RISE blueprints, performance level descriptors, and writing rubrics may all be found on the RISE Portal under the Resources tile.
Please see the attached RISE updates document released by USBE for more information.
For questions about these changes, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
Elementary Summative Testing Changes 2024-25
DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
Elementary School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
Elementary Summative Testing Changes for 2024-25
With the change in the ELA core approved by the Utah State Board of Education in recent months, the state’s summative assessments will now reflect those changes. The changes to RISE are highlighted below:
RISE:
- The summative RISE ELA assessment and the summative RISE Writing assessment (5th and 8th grades only) have been revised according to the new ELA core. Scores for the summative RISE ELA and summative RISE Writing will not be available until fall 2025. Automatic scoring for both summative assessments will resume in the 2025-26 school year.
- Scoring for RISE Math and Science will still be available after students complete and submit the assessment.
- For RISE ELA and Math, students will see up to one cluster question (see Feb. 6th JAM). The RISE Math cluster questions will be field test items. The RISE ELA cluster questions will be actual questions that count towards students’ scores.
- RISE blueprints, performance level descriptors, and writing rubrics may all be found on the RISE Portal under the Resources tile.
Please see the attached RISE updates document released by USBE for more information.
For questions about these changes, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.
End-of-Year Testing Reminders
DATE:
Thursday, March 6, 2025
TO:
All School Administrators
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Administrator of Teaching and Learning
Ben Jameson, Director of Assessment, Research and Accountability
SUBJECT:
State Testing Reminders
The following are friendly reminders from the state’s testing ethics policy:
- “Utah LEAs and Licensed Utah educators may use a student’s score from a statewide assessment to improve the student’s academic grade for or demonstrate the student’s competency within a relevant course.”
- “Licensed Utah educators shall ensure that:
- “Students are not penalized who have been exempted from a statewide assessment
- “Students aren’t provided a nonacademic award for participating in or performing well on a statewide assessment
- “Students are provided an alternate learning activity if they are exempted by a parent from a statewide assessment.”
The following additional guidance may help address specific questions that arise from the part of the state’s testing ethics policy quoted above:
- Using a student’s score from a state assessment can only improve a student’s grade – not hurt it. However, points are awarded for those who meet goals or earn proficiency on the state assessment, students should either receive 100% of the points possible or be excused from the assignment.
- Educators may not use a student’s score on a state assessment to determine an overall grade for the course. It can be used, in conjunction with other evidence, to help determine a student’s overall grade.
- Educators may not assign participation points on students’ grades for taking a state assessment.
- The alternate learning activity for students whose parents have opted them out of taking the state assessment can be an alternate assessment. That said, using a student’s score on the alternate assessment or activity on a student’s grade can only improve the student’s grade – not hurt it.
- In addition, if the incentive is that a student who demonstrates proficiency on a state assessment means that they don’t have to take the class final exam, then students who have been opted out would also need two opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. For instance, if a student who was opted out demonstrated proficiency on the alternate assessment (administered while other students took the state assessment), then they wouldn’t have to take the class final exam.
Please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability with questions.
