To: K-12 Administrators, District Office Administrators
From: Sallie Warnecke, Supervisor of Digital Learning Holley McIntosh, STEM Director
Subject:SB 273 Implementation
Summary:
H.B. 273 establishes statewide requirements for balanced classroom technology use and artificial intelligence (AI) in Utah public schools. During the 2026-27 school year, the USBE will create a model policy outlining the allowable use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. When the policy is completed, districts will review their current practices and create their own policies and administrative procedures to ensure compliance. No changes are required in our current school or classroom practices during the 2026-27 school year.
Information for 2026-27:
By December 1, 2026, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) must post the state’s model policy for balanced technology use and AI in classrooms on their website. This will be the basis for the policies and administrative procedures developed by districts.
After the state model policy is published, districts will create their own policies and procedures that reflect the state model. The policies must be reviewed by the board in an open meeting with opportunities for public comment. The district policy must be adopted by July 1, 2027 for implementation in 2027-2028.
When the model policy is adopted, we will create a group to review the requirements and compare them to our current practices as we create our district policy and administrative procedures for implementation. We will then create school, teacher, and parent-facing information about changes to our current programs. More information will be forthcoming after the USBE has adopted the state policy.
At this time, no changes are required in schools or classrooms. The district has started some initial steps to prepare, such as:
Inventorying our devices and software programs;
Considering changes to the curriculum review and adoption process for future adoptions to ensure compliance;
Creating a committee to review all software program requests;
Auditing our current instructional technology, device distribution, internet filtering, student data privacy, and security to identify any areas that we will need to address in our district administrative procedures.
Questions:
Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
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 Friday, September 25 is a non-student day and the annual Office Professionals Conference at Hillside 8:00am-3:00pm. All contract office Professionals should be in attendance. Secondary Fine Arts Performances – Listing of upcoming secondary fine arts performances. DLC INFORMATION Thank you for participating in our previous Courageous Connections session, Role of a Leader. Throughout this year, we will build skills in communicating courageously, building strong relationships, and leading change.As a reminder, these were your reflection questions from that session: What conversation, decision, or relationship have you been avoiding? What would leading more courageously look like, and what is the cost of not changing? Which area do you most want to grow in this year–enabling change, building relationships, or communicating courageously–and why? From there, you committed to one specific action toward your leadership goal.Before our next session, please be prepared to share an update, along with one specific example. Our next session is on October 1st. We will be working on Courageous Communication I: communicating genuine care and planning a conversation to strengthen a relationship with someone you work with. We ask that you complete the Pre-Year Survey. The purpose of this survey is to better understand your current experiences, perspectives, and goals as a leader. Your responses will help the School Leadership Alliance team tailor the learning experience to your cohort and establish a baseline so we can measure growth throughout the program. Complete thePre-Session Survey: Link: https://forms.gle/h7weZvHAmQ7GdjHx8 The survey takes approximately 5–10 minutes to complete and is required for all participants. Please complete it by 9/30/26. There are no right or wrong answers. We encourage you to respond honestly based on your current experiences. Your individual responses will be kept confidential and will be used to inform program planning and evaluate the overall impact of the program, rather than to evaluate individual participants. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. We look forward to partnering with you throughout the year. Thank you for everything you do. CELEBRATIONS –Please send toleeson.taylor@slcschools.orgorangelina.tovar@slcschools.orgby Wednesday at 5:00 PM. West Latinos in Action (LIA)
We are proud to celebrate our Latinos in Action students! Our students had the opportunity to attend a recent City Council meeting and represent Latinos in Action as they received a recognition on behalf of the organization, alongside LIA from East High School. Their participation reflects the leadership, commitment, and community involvement that LIA encourages in our students. Congratulations to our students for representing West High School and Latinos in Action with pride! Parkview STEM Lab Congrats to Parkview for establishing and integrating it’s STEM Lab. Mr. Castillo has worked very hard to set it up. This is their second year since receiving a parenting grant with Indian Hills. As a Title I school this a great opportunity for our students! ALL ADMINISTRATORS – Items for all building level administrators DEADLINES Final 26-27 Principal Tackle List-September ACTION ITEMS Portrait of a Graduate Student Survey – Students in grades 6-12 are being asked to contribute their ideas on what the SLCSD Portrait of a Graduate will be. Schools will need to set aside 20-30 minutes to allow students to take this important survey on Oct 1st. The student survey coincides with a parent survey that will be going via ParentSquare. 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. INFORMATION ITEMS Assessment Essentials Please look through Assessment Essentials for information on current and upcoming Federal, State, and District required assessments. For questions, please reach out to Dr. Patrick Jefferies, Assessment Supervisor-Assessment & Evaluation (patrick.jefferies@slcschools.org) Attendance Update September 2026.docx -this is the September attendance newsletter. Roving Substitute Guidelines -- The purpose of this memo is to provide information regarding the current situation and guidance moving forward to address the needs of support staff (specifically, special education paraprofessionals and PE instructors) and the increased substitute expense. New Requirements Under Utah's School Food Additive Law — Effective 2026–2027 School Year -- This memo outlines new state requirements that take effect for the 2026–2027 school year restricting certain food additives in foods sold, donated, offered, or served on school grounds during the school day. Please review this guidance carefully and share it with relevant staff, including food service, front office, and classroom teachers who coordinate food-related activities. School Attendance Webpage Template and Attendance Communications Guidance – The purpose of this guidance is to ensure families have clear, consistent, and accessible information about school attendance. By using a common attendance webpage template, schools can help families understand attendance expectations, Utah's compulsory education requirements, how to report absences, how attendance notifications are communicated through Edia AI, and where to access support when attendance concerns arise. Attendance Coding Guidance Memo – As we continue implementing the new attendance law, it is important that tardies, late arrivals, and absences are coded consistently across schools. WPAD Order Information – Guidance regarding wearable panic devices. Student Services Newsletter – This is the monthly newsletter from Student Services. CTE September News – Monthly newsletter from CTE. USBE Updates ***USBE School Leadership Conference***Registration is now open! Two locations to choose from: November 9, CEDAR CITY (Courtyard by Marriott): REGISTER November 12, Salt Lake City (SLCC): REGISTER Topics will include: School Safety, Special Education, School Improvement, New Leader Training Fee: $25 (for lunch) Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm (both locations) For all school leaders and those who support school leaders! For more information, contact quinn.kellis@schools.utah.gov 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 Seal of Biliteracy Registration Online registration is now open for students interested in earning the Utah Seal of Biliteracy! The Seal is an additional achievement students can earn to recognize and celebrate their language skills and demonstrate their proficiency in more than one language. Please encourage eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their language abilities and earn this special recognition. INFORMATION ITEMS Information about class taking patterns – Utah schools are committed to providing students with broad and equitable access to educational opportunities. Utah Administrative Rule R277-707 specifically provides that schools may consider academic readiness but may not require students to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Attendance-Based Grade Reduction Update -- As we have begun implementing the new attendance law, we have learned that schools are not coding tardies consistently across the district for students who arrive late or tardy (excused or unexcused). This means that your tardy data may not be correct for the purpose of calculating student grades for teachers who choose to apply the new attendance-based grading policy. 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. MIDDLE SCHOOLS –Items for middle school administration DEADLINES ACTION ITEMS INFORMATION ITEMS Information about class taking patterns – Utah schools are committed to providing students with broad and equitable access to educational opportunities. Utah Administrative Rule R277-707 specifically provides that schools may consider academic readiness but may not require students to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.Attendance-Based Grade Reduction Update -- As we have begun implementing the new attendance law, we have learned that schools are not coding tardies consistently across the district for students who arrive late or tardy (excused or unexcused). This means that your tardy data may not be correct for the purpose of calculating student grades for teachers who choose to apply the new attendance-based grading policy. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Items for elementary school administration DEADLINES ACTION ITEMS INFORMATION ITEMS
Individualized Reading Plans Available in PowerTeacher– The individualized Reading Plan (IRP) system is now operational and available through PowerTeacher. K–3 teachers can begin using the system to create and maintain IRPs for students who require a plan under SB 241.
Every year, 5th grade students and teachers have the opportunity to travel to Abravanel Hall and hear the Utah Symphony perform. This year, the dates for those concerts include: Feb 22 at 10 AM – 1800 seats available Feb 22 at 11:30 AM – 300 seats available Feb 23 at 10 AM – 760 seats available Feb 23 at 11:30 AM – 400 seats available Please have your 5th grade teachers reach out to Amy Burris with the date your school would like to attend no later than October 15, 2027. She will arrange and pay for transportation. This is a unique opportunity for your students because Utah is one of only 17 states with a full-time symphony orchestra in the nation. Plus, this is completely paid for through our state legislature. Please contact Amy right away. If you'd like more information about this opportunity, you can access this link: https://utahsymphony.org/education/teachers/ Thanks, and Happy Listening 🙂
To: School Principals From: Dr. Bri Conley, Director of Educational Equity & Access Date: September 10, 2026 Subject: School Attendance Webpage Template and Attendance Communications Guidance
Purpose
The purpose of this guidance is to ensure families have clear, consistent, and accessible information about school attendance. By using a common attendance webpage template, schools can help families understand attendance expectations, Utah's compulsory education requirements, how to report absences, how attendance notifications are communicated through Edia AI, and where to access support when attendance concerns arise. Using a common template across schools will help create a consistent experience for families and make attendance information easier to find and understand.
District Guidance
All schools should use the attached School Attendance Webpage Template on their website. The template is designed to provide families with clear, consistent, and family-friendly information about attendance procedures and expectations.
To maintain consistency across the district, schools should keep the main content of the template. Schools should only update sections that require school-specific information, including:
Attendance office email address
Attendance office phone number
Any other school-specific contact information
Administrative Responsibilities
Principals are responsible for:
Ensuring the attendance template is posted and maintained on the school's website.
Replacing all placeholder information with accurate school contact information.
Verifying that attendance office procedures match the information shared on the website.
Ensuring attendance office staff understand and follow the attendance reporting and excusal procedures outlined in the template.
Reviewing the webpage regularly to keep information accurate and up to date.
Supporting clear and proactive communication with families about attendance expectations, how to report absences, and available supports through multiple channels, including ParentSquare messages, flyers, SEP conferences, back-to-school events, and other family engagement opportunities.
This guidance is intended to help families access attendance information quickly, improve communication between schools and families, and support student attendance and engagement.
School Attendance Webpage Template
Utah law requires students ages 6 to 18 to attend school regularly, and we're here to help make that possible for every family. If attendance becomes a challenge, reach out to us early so we can help. We can connect families with support and resources to help address barriers to attendance and keep students engaged in learning. Together, we can help every student stay connected to school and on track for success.
Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. To maximize learning opportunities, students are expected to attend every class, on time, every day. Parents and their student(s) are jointly responsible for ensuring the student's regular attendance at school. See SLCSD Board Student Policy S-4 for more information.
Attendance Notifications with Edia AI
When a teacher marks a student absent, families will receive a text message from Edia AI within minutes. Parents and guardians can reply directly to the text message to verify or provide the reason for the absence. This helps us maintain accurate attendance records and allows us to provide timely support to students when needed.
No app download or account setup is required. Edia AI communicates directly with the parent or guardian phone number on file with the school.
Reporting an Absence
Reply to an Edia AI text message. If you have previously received a message from Edia AI, simply reply to the text with the reason for your student's absence. This is the preferred and fastest way to communicate attendance information. The attendance office will receive your message and update your student's attendance record.
If you have not previously received an Edia AI message or are unable to use Edia, email [attendance email] with your student's name, the date(s) of the absence, and the reason for the absence.
If email is not accessible, call [attendance phone number] and leave a voicemail with your student's name, the date(s) of the absence, and the reason for the absence.
Please report absences as soon as possible to help ensure attendance records are updated accurately and efficiently.
Important: If you have not received messages from Edia AI and your student has had absences you have not excused, please contact the school office to verify that your phone number is listed correctly in PowerSchool. If your phone number changes, parents and guardians should update their contact information as soon as possible to ensure they continue to receive attendance notifications and other important school communications.
Attendance Records and Excusal Requirements
To help us maintain accurate attendance records, please include your student's name and the specific date(s) and/or class period(s) when contacting the Attendance Office regarding an absence.
If you submit an absence excuse by email, the message must come from the parent or guardian email address listed in PowerSchool. Requests sent from a different email address cannot be processed, and a notification will be sent to the email address on file.
When reporting an absence, please include the reason for the absence. A parent or guardian's acknowledgment that a student was absent, without a reason, is not sufficient to excuse the absence. Providing the reason helps the school accurately code attendance and ensures compliance with state attendance requirements.
Please keep the following in mind:
Parents and guardians have one week from the date of an absence to notify the school and provide the reason for the absence. After one week, the absence can no longer be excused and will be recorded as a truancy.
If you believe your student was marked absent in error, please contact the teacher directly.
The Attendance Office cannot change an absence to present without written confirmation from the teacher.
Requests received after 2:30 p.m. may be processed the following school day. We appreciate your patience.
Email cannot be used to check a student out of school.
Students are expected to attend all classes each day. If a student needs to leave during the school day, a parent or guardian must check them out through the Attendance Office.
Students who leave without being properly checked out may be considered truant.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your student's attendance and success. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Attendance Office. We are here to help.
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 Templateby 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Licensing Newsletter -- These newsletters provide critical updates regarding Utah Educator Licensing for administrators, Human Resource officers, APPEL Directors, university faculty and others.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Attendance Update September 2026.docx