Announcements
SLCSD Priorities 2026-27 - Our top priorities highlighted from our strategic plan for student success. (Draft only!!)
Common Expectations – Administrative guiding document for 26-27 school year.
September Cultural Calendar – Record of cultural observances for September
CSTAG (comprehensive school threat assessment guidelines) is a critical component of school safety. All building administrators must be trained in CSTAG but it is recommended that others be trained as well. If you or your staff are interested in completing CSTAG training, please sign up for our next session offered on Monday, Sept. 14 from 8:30am-4:00pm in room 1055 at the District Office. Registration is available on Kickup or reach out to Dr. Alli Martin with any questions.
CELEBRATIONS – Please send to leeson.taylor@slcschools.org or angelina.tovar@slcschools.org by Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
Attendance and Engagement Meta Network celebration
Salt Lake City School District has been accepted into the National Attendance and Engagement Meta Network, a Gates Foundation-funded initiative focused on improving student attendance and engagement. East, West, and Horizonte will represent the district in this national learning network, collaborating with schools and districts across the country to identify, implement, and refine strategies that reduce chronic absenteeism and strengthen student connection to school.
We appreciate the leadership of the East, West, and Horizonte teams for taking on this work and look forward to sharing lessons learned across the district throughout the year.
ALL ADMINISTRATORS – Items for all building level administrators
DEADLINES
PUBLISHED 2z026 Principal Tackle List.docx
ACTION ITEMS
Administrator ESL Endorsement Information – In the Salt Lake City School District, every educator plays an important role in supporting English learners. As an administrator, you can choose to complete the full ESL endorsement, or just complete three classes for the modified endorsement.
Action Item: Assigning STEM AC Math Digital Learning Student Licenses – The math digital learning student licenses awarded to schools from the STEM AC Math Digital Learning Grant will be assigned by SLCSD IT Department. Administrators must submit a SLCSD IT helpdesk ticket to inform IT how the licenses are to be assigned in their school.
Attendance Counts for Events Family Engagement
As part of SLCSD's Strategic Plan, Pillar 3, Goal 1, we are entering our second year of collecting attendance data for key family engagement events. Please provide attendance information for the following:
Back-to-School Night (2026)
Two family engagement events during the 2026-27 school year (selected by your school; you may use the same events reported in 2025-26)
Fall and Spring SEP Conferences (2026-27)
We recognize that schools track attendance in different ways. Whether you use exact counts or reasonable estimates, please report the data using the method that works best for your school. Our goal is to establish a baseline and measure growth in family engagement over time.
Once your event dates are submitted, we will add them to the district tracking spreadsheet and the Tackle list so that you, or your designee, can enter attendance data following each event throughout the school year.
Please submit the 2026-27 School Event Attendance Count – Fill out form by Thursday, September 10.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Attendance Update September 2026.docx -this is the September attendance newsletter.
Attendance-Based Grading Under HB 502 Guidance – The Salt Lake City School District is providing the following guidance regarding attendance-based grading under HB 502. This guidance is intended to support a fair, transparent, and consistent approach across our secondary schools while ensuring that students and families clearly understand how attendance may affect a course grade.
Assessment Plan for SY 2026-27 – This document is the comprehensive overview of assessments. For specific dates of testing windows, questions about administration, or training on administration, please contact Dr. Patrick Jefferies, Assessment & Evaluation Supervisor.
Update: Internal and External Grant Pre-Application Approval Process – This memo serves as an important reminder that all faculty and staff must use the district’s Grant Pre-Application Approval process before submitting any grant request.
Botvin Life Skills Training – It is now time to fill out the BOTVIN forms for your schools.
Student Services Newsletter – This is the monthly newsletter from Student Services.
Utah Compose/Scrible update
USBE retired Utah Compose and will not be available this year. Scrible will be the replacement.
The platform is currently not rostered or available for teacher use.
We expect USBE to have it ready by October.
Teachers New to Acadience Reading:
Teachers new to Acadience Reading need to complete the Administration Essentials course provided online by USBE before they conduct any benchmarking. While not as robust of an option, there is a self-paced Canvas course that covers this information as well. Teacher should observe and practice testing procedures and follow standard testing procedures to keep the data collected valid and reliable.
Math Acadience License Issues
Acadience Math Digital Upgrades and License Information:
Schools that have requested K-3 manual-entry Acadience Math licenses are all set to use them, but please remember that they are exclusively for K-3 students. Manual licenses for upper grade students must be purchased, even though it appears that all students have accounts. This is due to the way the ALO platform rosters. Upper grade students with Acadience Reading accounts may appear to have Acadience Math accounts. They do not unless your school purchases them.
For schools that have requested quotes for digital upgrades or upper grade licenses, please complete your purchase as quickly as possible. These upgrades are given at a district level through ALO. This means that any school in the district could potentially use it. To avoid using the upgrades purchased by another school and avoid costly invoices, schools need to clearly communicate the type of licenses they are using to classroom teachers and support staff for Acadience Math. If the school does not purchase the digital upgrade, all measures need to be administered, scored, and entered manually into ALO.
Teacher Growth Reports
Teacher growth reports are now available in the DDC>Assessment & Evaluation>Assessment Essentials> [School Folder]>Scores & Reports> Teacher Growth. Reach out to Dr. Jefferies in Assessment & Evaluation with questions.
USBE Updates
School LAND Trust – USBE is excited to announce a new Canvas course designed to support District Principals in administering the School LAND Trust (SLT) program. District principals are vital to ensuring School Community Councils (SCC) are properly formed and funds are used to address critical academic needs.
SEOP Newsletter – August newsletter
USBE September Attendance Newsletter – USBE Attendance information for the month of August.
HIGH SCHOOLS – Items for high school administration
DEADLINES
ACTION ITEMS
Calculating Added Value GPA -- Additional value is awarded to courses that demonstrate a higher level of academic rigor. This system ensures students are recognized for the commitment they make when enrolling in advanced coursework.
INFORMATION ITEMS
2026 Cohort Cleanup for High Schools
All graduation requirements for last year's 12th grade students who did not graduate in May must be completed and entered into PowerSchool by September 25.
Registrars must also ensure that an Exit Status Change record is created in PowerSchool for any student who has completed their graduation requirements or for whom new information is available regarding their enrollment status or transfer destination.
Registrars will receive training on this process from IT on August 28.
Monthly Registrar Meetings Reminder and Dates – Monthly Registrar Meetings Reminder and Dates
High School RISE updates – USBE has indicated that RISE blueprints will be available starting Sept 1 for:
ELA 9 & 10
Secondary Math II (Secondary Math I is already posted)
Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, & Physics
Nov 16, 2026: Performance Indicators available
Jan 19, 2026: Benchmarks for ELA 9 & 10, and Secondary Math II available
MIDDLE SCHOOLS –Items for middle school administration
DEADLINES
ACTION ITEMS
INFORMATION ITEMS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Items for elementary school administration
DEADLINES
ACTION ITEMS
Botvin Materials and Teacher Training for Grade 5 – Action Required by 9.11.26 – Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) is an evidence-based substance-use and violence-prevention program that helps students develop skills for making healthy and responsible choices.
INFORMATION ITEMS
UEA Support for Readathon – On October 2, 2026 the Utah Statewide Read-A-Thon will take place. UEA applauds the efforts of Governor Cox and first lady Abby Cox in working to build literacy in our state.
UEA supports the Governor’s initiative, and we hope your school district will actively participate so students and educators of all ages can discover, or rediscover, the joy of reading. We also hope that you will work in close collaboration with educators and the community in planning events. UEA and your local association leaders stand ready to help
CogAT Testing – Annual Dates & Expectations -- SLCSD’s Magnet and Advanced Academics and Mentoring Program (AAMP) provide advanced learning opportunities for students who demonstrate gifted characteristics and high academic potential.
Math Acadience Order process for 2026-27: Any school can use manual licenses for K-3 Math Acadience paid for by USBE. Schools can pay $2.95/student with school funds to upgrade to digital licenses and avoid hand entry of data in K-1. For more details, please click here. To order licenses for grades 4-6, email quotes@acadiencelearning.org to purchase.
TRAINING:
Starting now, participants can self-enroll in the Canvas course for the SY26-27 administration and scoring of the Acadience Math assessments. Once they complete the module(s) and submit the survey they will receive a certificate of completion. Self-enroll URL link https://usbe.instructure.com/enroll/C6FRBW
Please reach out to Dr. Patrick Jefferies, Assessment & Evaluation, with questions. patrick.jefferies@slcschools.org
RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS FROM DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS
SPED Scoop – Special Education Newsletter
Student Services Resources
Teaching & Learning
Salt Lake Education Foundation
School Leadership & Support
Administrative Memos
*Unless otherwise requested, information will run for 2 weeks only.
Salt Lake City School District
