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DATE:
Thursday, January 12, 2023

TO:
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
CSI/TSI Calculations Released by USBE for All Schools

________________________________________________________________________________

Targeted School Improvement (TSI) and Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) are two school designations under the state’s ESSA plan and are part of the state’s school accountability system. The purpose of these two school improvement programs is to help schools identify and support student groups that are struggling academically.

Schools are designated as TSI if one or more of its student groups’ total school report card points earned is in the bottom 5% statewide for two consecutive years.

Schools are designated as CSI if one of the following conditions are met:

  • They are a high school with a low graduation rate in the year CSI was calculated (every three years).
  • They are a Title I school that has one or more student groups identified as TSI that haven’t exited after four years.
  • They are a Title I school where the total student population’s school report card points earned is in the bottom 5% of Title I schools statewide in the year CSI was calculated (every three years).

For your information, CSI was calculated for the 2021-22 school year.

USBE has recently released the school report card calculation data for TSI designations, and the results may be accessed in school administrator Tableau accounts. School administrators may use this information to identify student groups that are close to being designated as TSI, or in other words, student groups that have one year below the state’s 5% threshold of the two consecutive years required. The 2021-22 TSI Calculations for All Schools Statewide dashboard may be accessed here.

Title I schools may also see a similar view for CSI calculations for their total student population here. Using this dashboard, school principals will be able to see how close to the 5% threshold their student population came to being designated as CSI for each of the school report card indicators.

For questions about TSI, CSI, school report cards, or the state’s school accountability system, please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability.

 

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Published on

DATE:
Thursday, January 12, 2023

TO: 
All School Administrators

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

SUBJECT:
Identifying School Procedures to Prevent Plagiarism During WIDA Testing

________________________________________________________________________________

In order to provide targeted supports to multi-language learners, educators need valid and reliable data from assessments that help pinpoint a student's academic language ability. Plagiarism negatively effects the validity and reliability of that data.

As part of normal classroom instruction, many ML students are accustomed to using their device (cell phones or smart watches) to help them communicate and understand their learning. Thus, they have a natural tendency to want to use that technology to help them understand and communicate their learning on the WIDA Access. WIDA test proctors must explicitly communicate to students that their devices are not allowed or needed for the test because we need to understand what they can do without the aid of their device. WIDA test proctors must also implement procedures to ensure students do not have access to their personal technology devices during testing.

The 2022-23 WIDA Access Test Administration Manual states (see page 4):

"A key responsibility of all staff involved in testing is to ensure students are actively monitored during testing and do their own work. Test proctors are to ensure students don't use internet-connected devices, such as cell phones, while testing. Follow your state's test security policies and, whenever possible, have students leave their devices outside the testing room. The use of unapproved devices during testing or the submission of copied or plagiarized responses can result in student scores being invalidated."

The WIDA Access test vendor has the capacity to detect plagiarism from other websites. When this occurs, actions will need to be taken to investigate the issue by the school administration in collaboration with Evaluation, Research & Accountability.

To help schools formulate their procedures regarding student personal technology during the WIDA Access test administration, we are asking school test coordinators, in collaboration with their school administration, to fill out a survey form prior to test day that outlines the step-by-step procedures test proctors will use so that students do not have access to their personal technology devices during testing. The form may be accessed here. A copy of the questions is attached with this memo. In addition, school test coordinators will need to ensure that all WIDA Access test administrators and proctors are aware of and follow the outlined procedures to prevent plagiarism so that ML students have the best opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do.

Please contact Ben Jameson in Evaluation, Research & Accountability with any questions regarding this new requirement.

 

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As a reminder, the following due dates need to be followed when completing all evaluations. 

All Full Evaluations 

    • Due March 31, 2023
    • Stakeholder input and student growth with data uploaded into Perform
    • Goal(s) with both administrator and teacher signatures
    • This encompasses classroom teachers, teacher specialists, psychologists, counselors, BTS, etc.

 Note: Administrator full evaluations are due May 1, 2023.

 All Interim End of the Year Reflection 

    • Due May 31, 2023
    • Reflection on 3 Required Goals
    • Stakeholder input and student growth with data must be uploaded into Perform
    • Signatures from both administrator and teacher
    • This encompasses classroom teachers, teacher specialists, psychologists, counselors, BTS, administrators, etc.

Educational Support Professionals (Classified)

    • Due by the end of the May
    • Complete in Skyward
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Utah State Senate Bill 150 requires schools to assess students three times per school year (fall, winter, & spring) and inform first, second, and third grade parents/guardians of whether or not their child is reading on grade level. Please send the attached letters home with your students to inform parents of their student’s middle of year Acadience results by February 28, 2023. You may copy the letters onto your school letterhead and send the letters home with students.

BOY Above English

BOY Below English

BOY Above Spanish

BOY Below Spanish

 

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Principals who are absent from work for three or more days qualify for an approved administrative substitute.

Assistant principals who are absent from work for ten or more days qualify for an approved administrative substitute.

The Approved Administrative Substitute list can be found on the Admin Only HR site under Substitutes.

For questions, please contact the respective Administrator of Schools.

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DATE:
January 3, 2023

TO:
All Certified and ESPs

FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Kim Lloyd, Director of Special Education
Melanie Dawson, Principal of River’s Edge School

SUBJECT:
Back by Popular Demand! ETT: Cultivating Classroom Management Skills

Effective Teacher Training (ETT) is back! Our last section filled within one day of being announced, so learners need to register ASAP to reserve their spot. We are offering two more sections this year, so participants can choose what works best for their schedule.

Dates Course Section Register by
Winter Section  Jan. 23 - March 13 101914 117557  Jan. 19
Spring Section April 3 - May 22 101914 117558 March 30

For: All general education and special education teachers
Also Welcome: Specialists, mental health providers, ESPs
Instructional coaches can request to be an observer of the course instead of registering on JPLS.

Topics include: Antecedents, behavior basics, class-wide and individual interventions, increasing academic effectiveness, data-based decision making, students with unique needs, and personal wellness.

Format: This 7-week course will be offered online in an asynchronous format. Learners will engage with content and activities via Canvas. Participants must complete the first module within the first week, or their spot in the class will be given to someone on the waitlist.

1 USBE credit is available at no cost for those who complete the course.

For questions please contact: melanie.dawson@jordandistrict.org or katie.jarvis@jordandistrict.org.

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DATE:  
January 5, 2023

TO: 
Principals

FROM:  
Mike Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director, Student Services
Stacee Worthen, Counselor Consultant

SUBJECT: 
January/February 2023 School Counselor Trainings

School Counselor Training and Professional Development for JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2023 are as follows:

January 13, 2023 (7:30am-9:00am) -- Secondary Counselor Singleton PLC, JATC South
January 13, 2023 (1:30pm-3:00pm) -- Elementary Counselor Singleton PLC, DO Rm 129
January 26, 2023 (8am-11am) -- New Counselor Training, JATC South
January 27, 2023 (1:30pm-3:00pm) -- Elementary Counselor Singleton PLC, DO Rm 129
February 6-10, 2023 -- NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK
February 8, 2023 (8am-11:30am) -- Counselor Collaborative, DO Rm 230

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Stacee Worthen at (801) 567-8309.

 

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Elementary Administrative Assistant Meeting 
(for full time administrative assistants)
Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 pm
ASB Auditorium
See attached agenda for more details
* Please bring a laptop if you would like hands-on training on the new work order process
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The January Assistant Principal meetings will be held on January 12 (8:00-11:00am) and January 19 (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 per month. 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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Language & Culture Services is inviting parents who are newcomers (refugee, immigrant, or asylee) to attend a parent orientation to receive information on how they can best help their child in school. Interpreters will be provided. To best be prepared for families attending, please fill out this RSVP form. If a parent would like to attend virtually, that is also an option.

  • Location: 7905 S Redwood Rd West Jordan, UT 84088 ASB- Auditorium- Building A
  • Upcoming Dates: Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 14, April 11, May 9
  • Time: 10 a.m. -12 p.m.
  • RSVP: Parent Orientation Signup Form

For more info, call 801-567-8124 or visit lcs.jordandistrict.org.

Please distribute the attached flyers to your community.

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This training from Language & Culture Services is where you can learn to use ELLevation as an efficient program for managing your ESL Program. All Schools will begin using ELLevation to monitor ELs/MLs. School staff will have easy access to data and strategies for ELs/MLs.

This training will provide efficient program management, high quality instruction, effective collaboration with colleagues and great student outcomes.

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Black History Month is a time of reflection, recognition, and rejoicing on the achievements that African Americans have made in history. Rejoicing and celebrating in the hope for a better tomorrow for all generations and recognizing the life lessons and legacy of our ancestors and be thankful for their sacrifice.

The Black Student Union and Multicultural Clubs of Jordan District invite you to a fun celebration to kick off Black History Month on Friday, Jan. 27 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Elk Ridge Middle. Dr. Tamara Stevenson, President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & C.D.O. at Westminster College is the Keynote speaker.

 

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We hope you all had time to relax and recuperate during your winter break. Whether that means time with family, or time alone--all of us deserve the break. The December student sillies are over, and now we move into testing season. The WIDA Window is open--which means you will see your ML students being pulled out of class to participate in the yearly WIDA test. Encourage them to do their best, especially in secondary.

The full newsletter can be found at the link below. Stories include:

  • ELLevation Tips and Tricks - After pulling up an activity that you would like to try in your classroom, scroll down on the activity information page to find the "Student Support" section. This section will have a list of all your ML students and their levels. It will then show you what modifications or accommodations you should make for a student at this level and tell you which students need these modifications/accomodations.
  • Culture Corner - "Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is an educator's ability to recognize students' cultural displays of learning and meaning-making and respond positively and constructively with teaching moves that use cultural knowledge as a scaffold to connect what the student knows to new concepts and content in order to promote effective information processing. All the while, the educator understands the importance of being in a relationship and having a social-emotional connection with the student in order to create a safe space for learning."
  • WIDA Window January 5 - March 3 - The WIDA Window is the time period in which schools administer the WIDA language test to all ML students who are a level 1-4.9. Your students will periodically be pulled from class to take this test, so be understanding if they miss some class time. The test can take a while and be tiring, so be positive and understanding if they are feeling a little burned out or tired. If they test a 5 or above they never have to take it again, which can be motivating to many students--so encourage them to do their best!
  • ELD Lead Celebration - Mountain Shadows Elementary ELD Lead, Susan Allen, has put together a "Dream Team" of students excelling at learning English. They help other students around the school. Every 15 days, their ML students are tested and placed in new Walk to Read groups. For the next cycle, they are having their ML's in a group that focuses on reading, writing, speaking, and listening and they will be speaking into a computer and doing the WIDA practice test.
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For those who started LETRS training last year (cohort 1), the final full-day virtual sessions for Unit 5 will be ending at the end of February. If participants still need to do the full-day virtual training for Unit 5, please register on MIDAS as soon as possible. These are the final sessions and they will not be offered through USBE again. Full-day virtual sessions for units 6-8 are also currently available for registration on MIDAS.

Please click HERE to enroll for the LETRS training.

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You all learned what students really wished we knew, now let’s continue to transform our learning environments for students to thrive. There will be amazing keynotes to challenge all Jordan District employees to lead and create positive relationships with our students.

Please attend JEAC, LCS, and EDIs 2nd annual conference on Jan. 17, 2023, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at West Jordan High. Attendees not on contract time will be paid their hourly rate. For those wishing to attend during contract time, please communicate with your supervisor regarding job coverage.

To sign up for the Know More Conference click HERE.

We also want parents to be a part of our team to KNOW More and be a part of listening to one of our powerful keynotes from our educator conference on Jan. 17, 2023, from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at West Jordan High. Spanish interpreters will be present. There is no need for parents to sign up, just show up.

Please view the Know More Conference Flyers.

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