Month: November 2019

Good news! The STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (STEM EIP) application is now open for ALL remaining applications for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes applications for teachers who plan to take STEM EIP courses during the Spring Semester as well as those who have completed courses between July 1, 2019 and December 30, 2019 who did not already submit an application. This application cycle is OPEN NOW and will close on DEC 4, 2019.

---

*Qualifications for educators:

• Public educator on a current teaching contract.
• Course(s) is required for one of the approved STEM Endorsements.
• Course(s) must be at least 3 credit hours from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Submitted course(s) must have a grade of C or better.
• Elementary Endorsement Course(s): Tuition and materials reimbursement of up to $500 per course. If you are pursuing an elementary endorsement, contact your district or charter curriculum director for more information.
• Secondary Endorsement Course(s): Tuition and materials reimbursement of up to $1200 per course.
• Transcript must be attached showing course(s), credit hours, and grade(s).
• Course(s) highlighted on transcript.
• Receipt(s) must be attached showing tuition and material costs.
• Course must be taken during the Spring of 2020 and completed prior to June 30, 2020.*
  *For this application cycle only, you may also apply if you missed the Sept. 27 application deadline and have completed a course AFTER July 1, 2019 or are currently taking a course during the Fall of 2019.

* Please look over the Frequently Asked Questions Document for common questions and answers. If you have additional questions, please contact Jane Harward.

If you want to apply for this STEM Reimbursement, please complete the Google Form.

• Teacher Application

The income tax withheld from bonus income is often more than the income tax withheld from your regular pay. The IRS withholds tax on your bonus income by applying your regular tax rate to your combined salary and bonus income.  Although your regular rate is applied in this scenario, combining your salary and bonus on one check could put you in a higher withholding bracket, causing the tax allocated to your bonus to actually be higher than the regular rate.

IRS Withholding Calculator
Gather your most recent pay stub and use the IRS Withholding Calculator on the IRS website to estimate the number of allowances you should claim.  The calculator asks for an estimate of the federal income tax withheld from your pay to date, including bonuses.  Estimate that the amount withheld from your bonus will be 25 percent.  If the calculator results show you should adjust your W-4 allowances, you’ll see a message with the number of allowances to claim on line 5 of your W-4.

How to Complete Your W-4 Form
The Form W-4 can be downloaded from the IRS or Payroll Department’s website.  Complete sections 1 through 3 with your name, address, Social Security number and marital status, and calculated withholding adjustments.  This form must be turned in to the Payroll Department to take effect.  Please do not email this form.

CAUTION:  If you choose to change your W-4 form for a bonus payment, it is critical that you understand the possible tax implications.  Remember to submit a new W-4 form with your regular withholding allowances after you receive the bonus income.  If you fail to change your allowances back, you could have insufficient withholding for the rest of the year, which could result in a hefty tax bill when you file your next tax return.  Changing your tax withholding for a pay period is always an option, but you should make sure that you have the right information to ensure that your reporting goes as smoothly as possible.  The withholding on the W-4 affects your entire paycheck, not just the bonus.

Please take a moment to share your feedback and preferences regarding proposed Jordan School District calendars for the upcoming school year. The calendars include options for shorter or longer fall, winter, and spring recesses throughout the year as well as different school start dates.

The feedback submitted by you through this survey will be used by the Calendar Committee to help inform the creation of future calendars. The survey will close on Monday, November 18th, at 11:59 P.M.

Please use the link below to access the survey

• www.surveymonkey.com/r/jsdcal20

Additional information about the calendar development process and current school calendars is available at planning.jordandistrict.org/calendars/.

Thank you again for sharing your feedback!

You are invited to share the following information about the upcoming Jordan Parent University.

This event is free and open to the public and is focused on who do you call when issues arise.

• A panel discussion with teachers, counselors, and administrators.
• Receive guidance and resources to help parents with various issues facing students.
• Possible topics include: academics, social emotional, school issues, class credits, nutrition, transportation, etc.

Jordan Parent University will be held Thursday, Nov. 21 from 7 – 8 p.m. at Mountain Creek Middle, 5325 W. Bingham Rim Road, South Jordan.

Teachers, please enjoy short 30-minute modules on PD Bites from ALS! See the attached flyer for details. If you don't see a bite that you want, please let us know what you would like, and we'll cook one up, just for you!

Visit ALS PD Bites at jordanpd.instructure.com and sign up through JPLS.

• Free and easy to use
• Complete at you own pace
• Receive relicensure credit
• SIOP and ESL ideas you may have forgotten
• Go-to strategies and instruction for English Learners and ALL students

Call Tammy Fulmer at 801-567-8306!

In partnership with USBE, the Utah Education Policy Center, and with support from the Governor’s Office of Education, the Utah Teacher Fellows are collecting data on teacher mentoring & retention in Utah classrooms to inform state policy.

To participate, please check your email for one titled, " Utah Educator Career and Pathway Survey Invitation."  The survey will take approximately 15 minutes or less to complete. Your responses are confidential. Your identity will not be disclosed in any oral or written reports.  Your participation in this survey is voluntary. By taking the survey, you will provide essential information that informs policy and practice in Utah.

If you don't see this email, please check the email address listed in CACTUS and make sure it's current: https://www.uen.org/cactus/logon.do. Whatever email address is listed in CACTUS is where the survey went. If you update your email address in CACTUS, a new link to the survey can be sent to you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Andrea Rorrer or Dr. Yongmei Ni at the Utah Education Policy Center at 801-581-4207 or andrea.rorrer@utah.edu or yongmei.ni@utah.edu.