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Category: Technology

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UTA is upgrading its fare payment system, which requires new transit cards for staff, guardians, and most students.

Who Needs a New Card?

  • Secondary students using a OneCard: No action needed. Your current OneCard will continue to work.
  • Elementary students: A new UTA card is required.
  • Staff: A new UTA card is required.
  • Guardians with UTA passes: A new pass is required.

Current UTA cards will remain active through September 30, 2026.

Elementary Students

  • New cards will be delivered to schools by the end of August.
  • Students can pick up their card from a designated school staff member.
  • The school designee must enter the new UTA pass number into PowerSchool.
  • Cards will become active overnight after the update.
  • Old UTA cards will stop working on September 30, 2026.

Staff

  • IT will begin printing and distributing staff cards by the second week of September.
  • To receive your new card, please submit an IT help ticket: https://helpdesk.slcschools.org
  • Old UTA cards will stop working on September 30, 2026.

Guardian Passes

  • New guardian passes will be distributed to schools by the second week of September.
  • IT will provide each school with a list of guardians who currently have a pass.
  • IT will notify guardians through ParentSquare when their new pass is ready for pickup at the school.
  • The expiration date for current guardian passes is still being determined.

Questions?

If you have questions about the new guardian passes, please submit an IT help ticket and an IT team member will assist you.

Thank you.

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Dear Title I Principals,

I hope you are off to a great start to the new school year. Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring our Title I programs provide meaningful opportunities for family engagement and remain fully compliant with federal requirements.

To support a successful beginning to the 2026–2027 school year, please complete the following required Title I tasks by Friday, August 28, 2026. Completing these items early will help ensure your school is well prepared for the year ahead. If you need assistance at any point, please do not hesitate to reach out.

1. Plan and Hold Your Annual Title I Parent Meeting

For most schools, this meeting is held in conjunction with your Back-to-School Night.

Please ensure that:

  • The meeting date and time are posted on your school's website calendar as soon as possible.
  • Your presentation includes all required Title I information for families.
  • You customize the district : Title I Presentation Template by adding your school's name and any school-specific information.
  • Your completed presentation is posted on your school's Title I webpage on or before the day of the meeting.

For reference, you may also review the Backman Elementary 2024–2025 Title I Presentation as an excellent example.

Website Calendar Resources

2. Update Your Parent-School Compact

Please review and update your school's Parent-School Compact to ensure all dates and information are accurate for the current school year, including:

  • Parent engagement events
  • SEP/Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Grading periods
  • Other school-specific information

You may use last year's compact as a starting point or begin with the district Parent-School Compact Template.

Once updated:

  • Post the compact in the Title I section of your school's website.
  • Share the compact during your Title I Parent Meeting and through other communication methods.
  • Encourage parents, staff, and students to provide feedback throughout the year.
  • Please note that signatures from parents, staff, or students are not required.

3. Review Your Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Please review your school's Parent and Family Engagement Policy to ensure it is current and accurately reflects your school's practices.

If revisions are needed:

  • Update the document.
  • Post the final version in the Title I section of your school's website.

Additional Information

All required templates and supporting documents are available in the District Document Center under the Title I folder.

Beginning August 27, our office will begin reviewing school websites to verify that these requirements have been completed. Please ensure all required materials are posted and finalized by Friday, August 28, 2026, to ensure compliance before the Labor Day weekend.

Thank you for your partnership and for the tremendous work you do each day to support students and families. Your efforts are critical to building strong school-home partnerships and ensuring the success of our Title I programs.

If you have any questions or need support, please don't hesitate to reach out.

I appreciate your leadership and wish you a successful start to the 2026–2027 school year.

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Announcements

CELEBRATIONS – Please send to leeson.taylor@slcschools.org or angelina.tovar@slcschools.org by Wednesday at 5:00 PM.

Thanks to everyone that came out to the soccer match Wednesday night!!!

ALL ADMINISTRATORS – Items for all building level administrators

  • DEADLINES
  • ACTION ITEMS
    • 26-27 Title IX Trainings – Required trainings for Title IX and updating your school's Deputy Title IX Coordinator information.
  • INFORMATION ITEMS
    • 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.
    • Acadience Testing Calendar for each school is available and can be found by clicking here. Reach out to Dr. Jefferies in Assessment & Evaluation with any questions. 
  • Administrative Guidance for Parking – The intent of this guidance is to support orderly parking practices while maintaining fairness for all staff and visitors and reinforcing a welcoming school environment.
  • KEEP administration for Fall 2026-27 addendum – Thank you for the questions and feedback during our recent online meeting. As discussed, KEEP administration has changed following recent SLEA negotiations to ensure that kindergarten teachers are not required to return to work prior to the start of their contract calendar. Below are several important updates and clarifications. The original memorandum from May 26, 2026 is copied in full at the end.
  • SPED Extra 7-1-26.pdf​
  • New way to enter incidents in PowerSchool
    • PowerSchool as updated how we enter discipline incidents into PowerSchool, please see the attached document for steps on creating incidents.
    • Incident Entry Steps
  • Helping families with Parent Portal
    • Families will use their Parent Portal login to complete online registration for returning students.  This document will help you support parents with their ParentPortal login.
    • Supporting Parents with Parent Portal
  • Getting technology help
    • The best way to get technology help is to enter a support ticket: https://helpdesk.slcschools.org
    • Each school is assigned a technician; however, systems are supported by a number of different people.  Entering tickets allows us to get your request to the right person in an efficient manner.
  • Requesting technology
    • Technology for your building is requested through the School Improvement Plan Application in the 'Technology Requests' section.  You will also be able to see an assigned budget based upon your school that is calculated using your school enrollment and staff FTE count. 
    • Staff are assigned technology based upon their position.  Guidance about requesting technology can be found in this document in the District Document Center:
  • Monthly IT maintenance
    • To ensure the smooth operation of our IT systems, regular maintenance is necessary. We’ve established a maintenance schedule for the 2026-27 school year to minimize disruptions for staff and students.
    • Maintenance will occur on designated weekends each month, during which intermittent system outages may be expected. We will send out notifications each month detailing the affected systems.
    • The planned maintenance window is typically from 5 pm on Friday through Saturday.  Occasionally, maintenance may continue into Sunday.    Critical updates may be applied outside this planned maintenance schedule.
  • Please review the maintenance dates below and plan accordingly. 
  • August 28-29
  • September 25-26
  • October 23-24
  • November 20-21
  • December 18-19
  • January 22-23
  • February 26-27
  • March 26-27
  • April 16-17
  • May 14-15
  • The full maintenance calendar can be found here:

USBE Updates

  • Licensing Newsletter -- These newsletters provide critical updates regarding Utah Educator Licensing for administrators, Human Resource officers, APPEL Directors, university faculty and others.
  • Attendance Home – USBE Attendance website.  

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
    • Monthly Registrar Meetings -- Mandatory monthly meetings for high school registrars are essential to ensure consistency, efficiency, and compliance across the school district. These meetings serve several critical functions:

MIDDLE SCHOOLS –Items for middle school administration

  • DEADLINES
  • ACTION ITEMS
  • INFORMATION ITEMS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Items for elementary school administration

  • DEADLINES
  • ACTION ITEMS
  • INFORMATION ITEMS
    • 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

*Unless otherwise requested, information will run for 2 weeks only.

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Due to recent legislation in HB 273, we are adjusting our student computer refresh this year as follows:

  • Elementary Schools
    • Elementary schools will not receive new student computers this summer, and no existing student computers will be removed at this time.
    • Following guidance from USBE, teams from IT, Teaching and Learning, and School Leadership and Support will begin gathering stakeholder feedback to help determine appropriate screen time levels for different grade levels.
    • Until this review process is complete, requests for new student devices (including laptops, iPads, and similar technology) will be on hold.
    • We will continue to support students by replacing broken devices and ensuring that those with IEP or 504 requirements have the necessary technology accommodations in place.
  • Middle Schools
    • Middle schools will receive replacements for student devices that are 5 years old.  Allocations will be adjusted to match the most recent October 1 enrollment counts.  Parents will need to opt-in during registration to use a district provided 1:1 device.  IT, Teaching and Learning, and School Leadership and Support will work with middle schools to establish a common technology framework for all middle schools.

  • High Schools
    • High schools will receive replacements for student devices that are 5 years old.  Allocations will be adjusted to match the most recent October 1 enrollment counts.  Parents have the opportunity during registration to opt-out of using a district provided 1:1 device.

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Please remember to be actively promoting PowerSchool ParentPortal with your families.  Communications and IT will be beginning a notification campaign next week. 

  • We’ve created a couple of videos that will help you setup and troubleshoot parent portal accounts.
  1.  Identifying Students Without a ParentPortal account
  2.  Troubleshooting ParentPortal

When notifying parents about ParentPortal, you may share the following website containing instructions and videos to help them access their account.

Salt Lake City School District - PowerSchool Parent Portal

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To: All School Administrators
From: School Leadership & Support
Date: May 8, 2026
Subject: Planning Expectations and Key Dates for the 2026–2027 School Year

As we begin preparations for the 2026–2027 school year, School Leadership & Performance would like to provide the following information and planning expectations to support a strong and organized start to the year.

1. School Day Report and Calendar Preparation

Administrators are asked to complete the first draft of the following items in the Apex application by Friday, May 22, 2026:

  • School Day Report
  • Calendar Setup
  • Bell Schedule (High Schools)
  • Daily Calendar

We appreciate the work many of you have already begun in preparation for next year and encourage you to continue refining these items to ensure timely completion.

The School Day Report should include the following components:

  • Faculty meeting schedule
  • Planning time
  • Weekly PLC/Collaboration time
  • Parent/student meeting opportunities
  • Professional development time

Once drafts are completed, please collaborate with your Area Director to review, refine, and finalize the reports as needed.

Reference Document:
School Day Report 2026-27 185 Day Calendar

2. District Leadership Collaboration (DLC) and Professional Learning Schedule

To provide consistency and intentional professional learning opportunities throughout the year, the following meeting structure is being planned for the 2026–2027 school year:

  • 1st Thursday: Principal DLC Meetings
  • 2nd Thursday: Assistant Principal Meetings
  • 3rd Thursday: Principal PLC Meetings
  • 4th Thursday: Teaching & Learning Sessions

Please note the following exceptions:

  • December & May: GAM will replace the 1st Thursday meeting
  • Additional meetings for all administrators will occur on an as-needed basis

Please reserve these days on your calendars and plan to engage in ongoing professional learning and collaboration. Our goal is to ensure that learning and leadership development remain embedded within daily practice and directly connected to school improvement efforts.

3. Administrator Institute

Please reserve Monday, July 27, 2026, through Thursday, July 30, 2026 for the annual Administrator Institute.

This year’s institute will be structured in a conference-style format designed to provide meaningful learning opportunities, collaboration, and leadership development aligned to your professional growth and the district’s strategic priorities.

Additional details, including session information and schedules, will be shared in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued leadership, preparation, and commitment to supporting students, staff, and school communities across the district.

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The purpose of this memo is to provide guidance and direction regarding the upcoming end-of-year training and registration preview for school office staff. This training is intended to support a smooth and organized close to the current school year while also preparing office teams for the upcoming registration process.

Training Overview
The training will focus on end-of-year procedures, expectations for closing out the school year, and a preview of the upcoming registration process. The goal is to ensure that all office staff have clear guidance, consistent information, and the opportunity to ask questions in advance of summer preparation and fall registration.

Date
The in-person training sessions will take place on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, April 29
  • Thursday, April 30
  • Friday, May 1

Please indicate your preference by the end of the day on April 15th by completing the survey that can be found HERE.

Session Structure:
In order to provide flexibility and ensure full participation, two sessions will be offered on the selected date:

  • One morning session
  • One afternoon session

Each session will last approximately 2–3 hours and will include time for both training and questions.

Participation Expectations:
Principals are asked to ensure that all appropriate office staff members attend one of the scheduled sessions. This includes staff members who are directly involved in student records, enrollment, registration processes, and end-of-year procedures. Schools should plan coverage accordingly so that all staff are able to participate.

Next Steps:
 

Complete survey ( Survey for Principals – Fill out form)

  • A formal calendar invitation
  • Session times (morning and afternoon)
  • Location details
  • Any materials or information staff should review in advance

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that our schools are well prepared for both the conclusion of this school year and a successful start to the next. This training is an important opportunity to provide clear direction and consistent expectations for all office staff across the district.

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Administrative Memo

Stakeholder Feedback Surveys

SLCSD stakeholders will begin receiving notices about their access to the stakeholder survey. All surveys must be completed by April 24. Please encourage everyone to participate.

In case any questions arise, here is the information you should know:

  • This survey is OPTIONAL; no one should feel compelled to take it. However, it is incredibly useful feedback, and we strongly encourage all our stakeholders to participate.
  • This survey is ANONYMOUS, and participants should be encouraged to complete it at a time and location where they feel comfortable giving honest feedback.
  • Teacher Survey: Survey links will be sent out to teachers via district email. If they do not see the link, they should check junk/spam folders or reach out to patrick.jefferies@slcschools.org. Please set time aside for teachers to complete.
  • Parent Survey: Survey links will be sent out to parents via ParentSquare. If they do not see the link, they should check junk/spam folders or reach out to patrick.jefferies@slcschools.org.
  • Student Survey: Students can access the survey through the Student Survey Module in Clever. To increase response rates, we encourage you to work with your teachers to set aside time for students to complete their surveys during school hours.

Parents/Students

  • A student must have been enrolled for at least 40 days to receive a survey.
  • Students and parents will be asked to provide feedback on each individual course/teacher they have, as well as the administrators in their building.
    • They may skip any sections they wish
    • Parents with multiple children in the district may receive separate survey emails for each child.
  • Class information is pulled from PowerSchool, so if a student is in an afterschool program or a class that they know by a different name than what is in PowerSchool, please help them determine which class that is (i.e. After School might be Chess Club).

Any questions can be directed to the Assessment Supervisor, Dr. Patrick Jefferies (patrick.jefferies@slcschools.org).

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Summary:

The School Improvement Plan (SIP) Review Process is designed to support high-quality planning across all schools while promoting clarity, consistency, and continuous improvement. This process reflects our shared commitment to data-informed decision-making, equitable student outcomes, and alignment with district priorities. By establishing clear expectations and a common rubric, the SIP review process ensures that every school receives meaningful feedback and differentiated support based on plan readiness. Most importantly, the process emphasizes partnership and growth, providing principals and leadership teams with guidance, transparency, and targeted assistance to strengthen implementation and improve outcomes for students.

Purpose

  • Ensure every School Improvement Plan is clear, data-driven, and aligned to district priorities.
  • Provide transparent expectations for SIP quality.
  • Differentiate review and support based on plan readiness.

Annual SIP Timeline

  • Spring–Early Fall: Schools analyze data and develop SIPs using the district template.
  • Submission Deadline: Principals submit SIPs to the district.
  • Rubric Review: All SIPs are reviewed using the District SIP Rubric.
  • Approval & Feedback: Schools receive approval or revision guidance.

SIP Review Rubric Overview

All SIPs are reviewed using a common rubric to ensure consistency across schools. Each domain is scored on a 1–4 scale.

Rubric Domains

  • Needs Assessment & Data Analysis
  • Goals & Measurable Outcomes
  • Strategies & Action Steps
  • Equity & Student Support
  • Implementation Capacity
  • Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

Scoring Scale

  • 4 – Exemplary: Clear, aligned, and ready for implementation.
  • 3 – Meets Expectations: Solid plan with minor refinements needed.
  • 2 – Approaching Expectations: Key components present but require revision.
  • 1 – Does Not Meet Expectations: Significant gaps requiring support.

Review Pathways

Pathway 1: Area Director Review & Approval

  • Eligibility: Schools that meet state threshold and meet the district threshold (e.g., 18/24) with no domain below a 3.
  • Area Director reviews the SIP and provides written feedback and approves plan.
  • Principals make any minor revisions requested.
  • Final approval is granted by the Area Director.

Pathway 2: District-Level Committee Review

  • Eligibility: SIP does not meet the state threshold.
  • Area Director reviews the SIP and provides written feedback and approves plan.
  • A district committee conducts a deeper review.
  • Principals and their leadership teams participate in a presentation to clarify processes, strategies, needs and expectations.
  • In necessary, specific revisions and timelines are provided, along with district supports.
  • After revisions, the revised SIP is approved.

Monitoring & Ongoing Support

  • All schools submit periodic progress updates aligned to SIP goals.
  • Area Directors monitor implementation and outcomes.
  • Schools receiving additional support may have scheduled check-ins and targeted coaching.

What Principals Should Expect

  • Clear expectations and consistent feedback.
  • Timely communication regarding review status.
  • Support aligned to identified needs.
  • A focus on continuous improvement rather than compliance.

 

SLCSD School Improvement Plan (SIP) Review Process

This process outlines the submission and approval process for the school improvement plans for schools in Salt Lake City School District.

For a plan to have been deemed successful, the school must meet the state established threshold of either an 1% growth as measured by the accountability metrics or the following points on the accountability metrics:

  • Elementary/Middle School – 43.5% or higher
  • High School –46% or higher

Flow Chart(s):

School Meets Threshold

 

School Does Not Meet Threshold

 

Salt Lake City School District
School Improvement Plan (SIP) Rubric

This rubric is aligned to the SLCSD Strategic Plan for Student Achievement (2024–2029) and supports consistent, equity-centered review of School Improvement Plans.

DomainStrategic Plan Alignment1 – Needs Revision2 – Developing3 – Proficient4 – Exemplary
Data Analysis & Root CauseAll Pillars; emphasis on Pillar 1 & 2    
Goals & OutcomesAligned to Pillar Goals and Board Targets    
Strategies & Action StepsPillars 1–4 as applicable    
Equity & Student SupportPillar 1: Equity, Access, Student Support    
Implementation & MonitoringAll Pillars; Continuous Improvement    


Overall Score: ______ / 20

Meets Area Director Approval Threshold?  ☐ Yes   ☐ No

Reviewer Comments:

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Dear Principals,

In our ongoing effort to ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive, we are pleased to introduce a clear and supportive procedure for requesting additional resources that will govern all future requests for additional resources. This process is grounded in the principles of equity, student-centered decision-making, and shared accountability. Your voice and leadership are essential in helping us meet the diverse and evolving needs of our school communities.

Purpose of the Process

To establish a transparent, data-informed, and equity-driven system through which school leaders may formally request additional resources based on identified student needs and strategic priorities.

Guiding Principles

  • Alignment with district priorities:  SLCSD Priorities 2025-26  - Our top priorities highlighted from our strategic plan for student success.
  • Equity over equality: Resources are allocated based on student need rather than equal distribution (Gorski, 2013).
  • Student-centered decision-making: Requests should reflect actual enrollment, demographic shifts, and the academic or behavioral needs of students (Leithwood, 2010).
  • Support for diverse learners: Prioritization is given to schools serving high numbers of multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those in under-resourced communities.
  • Transparency and accountability: A collaborative process with stakeholder involvement and clear communication throughout.

Petition Submission Process

Step 1: Review school data that serves as the basis for request

  • Review current school-level data with your area director:
    • Academic performance
    • Behavior trends
    • Enrollment patterns
    • Staffing ratios
    • Facility needs
School Data PointWho to contact if you have questions about accuracy or need additional clarity
Academic PerformanceDr. Patrick Jefferies, Supervisor, Data & Assessment or Dr. Christine Marriott, Director of Title I and School Improvement
Behavior TrendsDr. Allison Martin, Director of SEL & Preventive Services
Enrollment PatternsSam Quartz, Chief Information Officer
Staffing RatiosLogan Hall, Executive Director, Human Resources or his designee
Facility NeedsIsaac Astill, Executive Director, Auxiliary Services

Step 2: Draft a resource petition

  • Complete the District Resource Petition, which includes:
    • Description of the requested resource(s)
    • Supporting data (quantitative and/or qualitative)
    • Expected impact on student outcomes
    • Explanation of alignment with school and district strategic goals

Step 3: Area Director review

  • Schedule a consultation to review your petition with your Area Director.
  • Revisions or recommendations may be made to strengthen alignment or clarify outcomes.
  • Once approved by the Area Director, it will proceed to the District Review Process,

District Review Process

Step 4: Cabinet-Level review

After the deadline, a cross-functional Cabinet committee will evaluate requests using the Weighted Resource Allocation Formula (see below) and determine feasibility and alignment with district-wide initiatives.

Step 5: Communication of decision

  • A formal written response will be provided in accordance with the annual timeline.
  • If approved, a deployment timeline and point-of-contact will be shared.
  • If declined, the rationale will be explained and next steps will be offered for support and/or resubmission.

Weighted Resource Allocation formula

To ensure fairness and transparency, each petition will be evaluated using the following scoring system (Total Possible: 100 points):

FactorWeightDescription
Student Enrollment and Demographics25 pointsProportion of high-need students (e.g., FRL, ELL, SPED)
Academic & Behavioral Data20 pointsEvidence of gaps in achievement, chronic absenteeism, or behavior challenges
Access Impact20 pointsDegree to which resource addresses disparities or underserved student groups
Alignment with Strategic Goals15 pointsHow well the request aligns with district/school improvement priorities
Stakeholder Engagement10 pointsInvolvement of parents, staff, and community in needs assessment and planning
Feasibility & Sustainability10 pointsPracticality of implementation and potential for sustained impact

Minimum threshold for consideration: 65 points

Implementation & Monitoring

Step 6:  Review & Feedback

Relevant staff will review resource allocation with building staff.

Step 6: Resource deployment

Work collaboratively with the assigned district departments (e.g., HR, Finance, Facilities, SPED) to implement the resource as planned.

Step 7: Evaluation & reporting

  • Monitor effectiveness using outcome data and feedback tools.
  • Submit a mid-year and end-of-year report summarizing impact.
  • Adjustments may be made as necessary for sustainability.

Ongoing support and improvement

  • School Leadership & Support will maintain a log of all approved petitions for transparency.
  • Annual reviews of the process will be conducted by Cabinet to assess equity and efficiency.
  • Principal feedback will directly inform system refinements.

Supporting Tools

Final Note

We thank you for your dedication to equity, excellence, and innovation. This process is not simply about resource distribution—it is about recognizing the unique stories of your schools and responding with meaningful support. Together, we will ensure every student in Salt Lake City School District receives the opportunities they deserve to learn, grow, and succeed.

For questions or additional support with your resource petition, please contact your Area Director or the Office of School Leadership & Support.

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