Jordan Employee Memos

Are you interested in or currently pursuing a STEM endorsement? Let USBE PAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE CLASSES! This is called the STEM Endorsement Incentive Program (EIP). See our EIP website for a full list of endorsements.

Reimbursement applications for courses completed through June 30, 2025 need to be completed. The FINAL round of reimbursements applications for the 2024-25 fiscal year are due August 31st for teachers who completed STEM courses through Summer 2025.

See the attached flyer and link to our EIP website for more information. If you have any questions, please reach out to your content consultant. We would love to talk to you!

• STEM EIP Flyer

The JSD Teachers for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Team has created a monthly newsletter.  The full newsletter for this month can be found at the link below. Stories include:

Reverberation - Reverberation is the way sound bounces in an environment. It makes hearing difficult because it smears speech. The chart gives a visual representation of what hearing sound is like with increased reverberation.

Improving Acoustics - Use FM/audio devices. Close windows/doors. Use sound absorbing items like bookshelves, corkboards, drapes, carpet. Put rubber or tennis balls on chair legs. Good lighting also helps.

Closed Captioning - Just a friendly reminder to make sure all videos are accessible by turning on closed captioning or subtitles.

• Check out all the newsletters at the JSD Deaf & Hard of Hearing Monthly "Tips" Newsletters Page
• Aug. 2025 Incidental Learning Newsletter

Did you attend a Bees game last week, but didn't get a shirt?
If you attended but did not get a shirt, please login to your District account and use the form below to request one. Let us know your name, school or department, and shirt size and we will send you one via District mail while limited supplies last.

• UPDATE: Shirt requests are now closed.

Pennants Available
If you didn't get a pennant, there are a few extras at the District Office. You can pick one up at the reception desk anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. while limited supplies last.

As we move into the school year, we want to remind schools that the District has a Kindergarten goal to have all students know all of their letter names and sounds by the end of the first quarter. We are asking teachers to input their data into Mastery Connect as a benchmark by Nov. 7.

Meeting this goal will set students up for being able to meet the end of year goal of 20 Whole Words Read in Acadience Reading. Whole Words Read is an indication that students can blend closed syllable words proficiently. Acadience Reading is an indicator of risk and research shows that when students end the year as highly proficient (blue) they have a 90-99% chance of achieving subsequent early literacy benchmarks. If students end the year at benchmark (green) they have a 70-85% chance of meeting subsequent early literacy benchmarks.

In order to make the most of the available features in our Districtwide Canva deployment, we’re going to be migrating to a new Canva structure in the next two weeks. No content will be lost; as part of this migration you’ll be added to one or more new Canva teams, corresponding to the school(s) with which you’re associated (or a “Staff & Admin” team, for staff not based at a school).

There’s no action to take at this time. Once the migration occurs, we’ll contact you again with next steps.

Here’s what you need to know:
We’ll re-label our existing district team to “Archive: Jordan School District”. You’ll always be able to access this content by toggling between teams. You’ll also be able to access your new school-based team by toggling in the same way. See this guide for information on switching between teams.

We’ll recommend you copy your content from this Archive team over to your new school-based team. You’ll get the best Canva features in these new teams, and will best able to collaborate in your school team with the students and staff associated with that school. Click here for instructions on how to copy Canva content to your new team, but keep in mind you won’t be able to copy content to your new teams until after the migration.

If you have any questions, please contact Jared Covili, jared.covili@jordandistrict.org.

Clarification of Leave Time
Contract employees receive leave benefits such as annual, sick, and bereavement, in correlation with their FTE. For example: Employees working 8-hour days would be allocated 12 annual leave days worth 8 hours each. They would record 1 leave day for each day off. Employees working 7-hour days would be allocated 12 annual leave days worth 7 hours each. They would record 1 leave day for each day off. Part-time teachers working full days with a .50 FTE (example: working 8 hour days 2 times a week and a 4 hour day, total equaling 20 hours/week), would be allocated 12 annual leave days worth 4 hours each. Therefore, if they missed their full 8 hour day, they would record 2 annual leave days.

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Employee FTE Change (ex. Full to Part Time)
In the event an employee changes their contract from a full workday to a half workday, or a half workday to a full workday, the number of annual leave days the employee has accumulated will transfer to the FTE of the new contract. For example, if a .50 FTE half-time employee had accumulated 15 half leave days and transfers to a 1.0 FTE full-time position, they would have 15 full annual leave days as a full-time employee. If a full-time employee had accumulated 15 full annual days on a full-time contract and changes to a half-time contract, they would have 15 half leave days accumulated as a half-time employee. A workday is defined by the employee’s contractual agreement.

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• Leave Time Clarification Flyer

This is a reminder that contracted employees should enter their own time off using Skyward's Employee Access whenever possible.

Here are instructions and guidelines.

1. Log in to Skyward – Employee Access. Select Time Off, then My Requests:
   
2. Select Add on the right hand side:
   
3. Choose the appropriate time off code. Sick leave can only be used for the employees own health needs. Annual leave should be selected for all other types of leave: family sick, personal day, etc. Choose the appropriate reason & enter a description of your reason for time off. If you are taking several days off you should choose date range, then enter the dates you will be using leave for. Click Save:
   
4. If you are taking a partial day, or just one day off, you should choose single day and enter the correct date and decimal for the day (see 8-hour time conversion chart). Below is a partial day off request example:
   
   EXAMPLE: If you are a full time 8 hour employee, each leave day is worth 8 hours. If you are a 7 hour employee, each leave day is worth 7 hours. If you are a 4 hour employee, each leave day is worth 4 hours. Please use the Time Off Equivalent Form & Examples located on the Payroll Website to determine the correct number of days to enter in Skyward.

Time Conversion Chart for 8-Hour Employees
Conversion from days to hours: # days multiplied by 8 hours = x hours

Hours/ Min	Entry
15 Minutes	0.0313
30 Minutes	0.0625
45 Minutes	0.0938
1 Hour	0.1250
1 Hour 15 Min	0.1563
1 Hour 30 Min	0.1875
1 Hour 45 Min	0.2188
2 Hours	0.2500
2 Hours 15 Min	0.2813
2 Hours 30 Min	0.3125
2 Hours 45 Min	0.3438
3 Hours	0.3750
3 Hours 15 Min	0.4063
3 Hours 30 Min	0.4375
3 Hours 45 Min	0.4688
4 Hours	0.5000
4 Hours 15 Min	0.5313
4 Hours 30 Min	0.5625
4 Hours 45 Min	0.5938
5 Hours	0.6250
5 Hours 15 Min	0.6563
5 Hours 30 Min	0.6875
5 Hours 45 Min	0.7188
6 Hours Min	0.7500
6 Hours 15 Min	0.7813
6 Hours 30 Min	0.8125
6 Hours 45 Min	0.8438
7 Hours Min	0.8750
7 Hours 15 Min	0.9063
7 Hours 30 Min	0.9375
7 Hours 45 Min	0.9688
8 Hours	1.0000

The Literacy Matters Newsletter has the latest literary updates. Be sure to read this edition to stay connected with literacy. This newsletter includes:

• 2025-26 Pacing guides have been created for Wit & Wisdom instruction in grades K-6 - These can also be found at elemliteracy.jordandistrict.org on the Standards/Pacing pages for each grade-level.
• ELA Training Dates - Sign up on pd.jordandistrict.org
• Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum K-6 & K-3 goals - This document includes the literacy focus and goals for K-2 and 3rd grade as well as recommended instructional minutes for all grade levels, including DLI.

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• Aug. 2025 Literacy Matters Newsletter

All Licensed Employees
Aug.11 – Aug. 18

Remember that teachers may not take annual/personal leave days during the six (6) days of contract time not involving students before school starts. However, they may, through correlation with the principal, arrange to exchange one of these days for another non-contract day.

K-5 Teachers,

We’re excited to share that our new K-5 Open Up math curriculum materials are on the way!

You will receive two shipments:

• The student manuals were delivered to your school last week.
• The manipulative and center kits will be delivered by August 15th.

A list of the items included in the manipulative kits is attached for your reference. Thank you for your patience and enthusiasm as we prepare for a great year ahead!

• What’s in the non-consumable math kit?

All Licensed and ESP Employees

• Aug. 20 - 26 - Elementary Schools
• Aug.19 - 25 - Secondary Schools
• Aug.19 - 25 - District Offices & Auxiliary Services

Per District policy, annual or personal leave days may not be used during the first 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 or personal leave day will be changed to a no-pay day as per policy.

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

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7. Annual leave shall not be taken during the first five (5) days that students are in school except under the following conditions:
   1. 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.
   2. To attend to personal or business matters which require the employee’s attendance and scheduling is beyond the employee’s control.
   3. First year employees who notify their supervisor in writing that they are ill.

The USBE Assessment Development Team invites Utah educators to participate in RISE item development workshops for Grades 9 and 10 in Science, Mathematics, and English Language Arts.

The development of Utah’s 9th and 10th grade assessments is a rigorous, multi-phase process that spans approximately two years, from initial item writing to operational use. This extended timeline ensures that every test item meets the highest standards of quality, fairness, and alignment to the Utah Core Standards. As part of the transition from UA+ to RISE, students will no longer take a single test based solely on grade level. Instead, assessments will be aligned to the specific course a student is enrolled in, providing a more accurate and relevant measure of their learning. With the passing of S.B. 39 in the 2025 Legislative Session, Utah state summative assessments for grades 9 and 10 will be adaptive and course-based starting in Spring of 2027. USBE has contracted with Cambium Assessment, Inc. (CAI) to develop assessment items for the courses listed here.

Why participate?
Ensure you are teaching content at a high level of rigor. Deepen your understanding of state standards. Strengthen classroom-to-assessment alignment. Support equitable and meaningful testing. Earn professional learning credit. Collaborate with peers statewide. Contribute to student-centered test design.

Participate In Test Development
Receive Email Updates And Workshop Invites For Your Content Area:

• Science
• Math
• ELA

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For questions or concerns, please contact Katie Bares for Secondary Math, Megan Lopez for Secondary ELA, or Samantha Tinkey for Secondary Science.

• USBE RISE Assessment Flyer

District assessment assistants will administer the Acadience Reading benchmarks for students in grades K-3 as in years past.  Schools should already have their benchmark testing dates for all three windows for the 2025-26 school year.

Any school personnel that will be involved in administering the Acadience Reading benchmarks in grades 4-6 and/or progress monitoring probes in grades K-6 should be trained in test administration procedures on an annual basis.  There are several training options depending on the employee’s work assignment.

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Classroom Teachers and Instructional Coaches
Teachers and coaches need complete only one of the following options:

• Training Option 1: USBE Canvas Course
• Training Option 2: In-person training – Please sign up using this link. The in-person course is a half day.  Schools will need to cover the cost of the sub.
• Training Option 3: JSD Training Course

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ESP Employees
ESP employees should complete one of the following options as part of their regular contract time:

• Training Option 1: In-person training – Please sign up using this link. The in-person course is a half day.  Schools will need to cover the cost of the sub.
• Training Option 2: JSD Training Course

Please note that ALO account access will be granted once ESP employees successfully complete one of the two training options listed above.

For questions about Acadience Reading training, please contact Janice Sperry in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Employees may view the most up-to-date testing bulletin, complete with test administration and survey administration windows, by clicking on ‘Elementary School’ (or Middle School or High School as pertains to your assigned location) under the heading Testing Bulletins on the front page of the website for Assessment, Research & Accountability:

For questions or concerns about any of the federal, state or district assessments or surveys, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

There are several assessment updates of which elementary, middle and high school teachers should be aware:

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RISE ELA and Writing Scores, School Report Card, and TSI/ATSI/CSI Designation Delays
The RISE ELA assessment was updated to match the new ELA core recently approved by the USBE.  Whenever an assessment is changed, it must go through a standard setting process.  USBE is currently conducting that standard setting process, which will delay the release of RISE ELA and writing scores until sometime in September or October.

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Grades 9-10 Summative Assessment
SB 39 was passed in the 2025 legislative session, which mandates the transition back to a standards assessment for grades 9-10.  This means that the Utah Aspire Plus will be administered for the last time in the spring of 2026 and then will be retired.

Cambium Assessment (CAI), the current RISE grades 3-8 vendor, won the RFP for the new standards assessment for grades 9-10, which means middle and high schools will now participate in a grades 3-10 RISE summative assessment using a single testing platform.  Student participation on the RISE assessment will be based on course enrollment rather than grade, similar to the way it was done when we had SAGE.  Actual tested courses in 9th and 10^th grades are still being determined.

Grades 9-10 RISE summative testing will begin in the spring of 2027.  RISE Benchmarks and Interims for grades 9-10 will also be developed but will likely not be available during the 2026-27 school year.

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Civics Exam Graduation Requirement
With the passing of HB 381, which took effect on July 1, 2025, students no longer have to take and pass a civics exam to graduate from high school.  Instead, students will need to take and pass a US government and citizenship course.  While the removal of the requirement to take a civics exam goes into effect beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the required government and citizenship course applies to the freshman class of 2026-27 to give USBE time to develop course standards and schools time to hire personnel.  Thus, the classes of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 do not have to pass the civics exam nor take the government and citizenship class to graduate.  The new government and citizenship course requirement will apply first to the class of 2030.

USBE is still working on this issue; thus, more updates will be released as they become available.

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RISE ELA and Writing Benchmarks
The RISE ELA and writing benchmarks based on the new ELA core for grades 3-8 will be available beginning November 4, 2025, except for the 7^th grade informational writing benchmark, which will not be available for the 2025-26 school year.  The 7^th grade informational writing benchmark pilot did not receive enough responses to validate its usage.

RISE math and science benchmarks are currently available.

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New DLI Assessment
The state’s contract with LTI and its AAPPL assessment for DLI classes ended with the 2024-25 school year.  Avant’s STAMP assessment won the new contract and will be implemented beginning with the 2025-26 school year.  Assessment, Research & Accountability will release additional updates as we receive them from USBE.

Please note that AAPPL for world language testing in the spring will continue as in years past.

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For questions or concerns about any of these changes, please contact Ben Jameson in Assessment, Research & Accountability.

Blomquist Hale has two workshops coming up in August. See attached workshop flyers and details outlined below.

• Topic: Grief Series: How to Support Others at Home
  Date: Aug. 7
  Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
  Location: Online!
• Topic: The Art of Keeping Your Cool
  Date: Aug. 11
  Time: 12 – 1 p.m. MT
  Location: Online!

To register for any of the upcoming workshops, please visit our website at https://blomquisthale.com/workshops/.

• Aug. 2025 Blomquist Hale Workshop Flyers

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If you have any questions, please contact Jordan Insurance Services at 801-567-8146 or insurance@jordandistrict.org.