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.
CELEBRATIONS – Please send to leeson.taylor@slcschools.org or angelina.tovar@slcschools.org by Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
West Debate
We are thrilled to celebrate an outstanding achievement by the West High School Speech & Debate Team! This past weekend, three students competed in the Tournament of Champions season opener, an exceptionally competitive national tournament featuring 1,879 competitors from 325 debate programs across the country. Junior Luka Mischenko finished 2nd out of more than 200 competitors in Lincoln-Douglas debate after 12 rounds, earning his first bid to the National Championship. Juniors Kobe Aoki and Sohum Krishna went even further, winning the entire policy debate tournament against 135 teams from across the nation!
These accomplishments are a tremendous reflection of our students' talent, dedication, and hard work throughout the summer. Please join us in congratulating Luka, Kobe, and Sohum on this remarkable national achievement and in celebrating the excellence of the West High Speech & Debate program. The full team will compete next at the University of Utah on October 2–3, and we look forward to celebrating many more successes throughout the season!
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
DEADLINESPUBLISHED 2z026 Principal Tackle List.docx
Tackle List Feedback Survey – Fill out form. – Please fill this survey out for feedback regarding the Principal Tackle List.
ACTION ITEMS
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 Attendance Update September 2026.docx -this is the September attendance newsletter.
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.
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.
Student Services Newsletter – This is the monthly newsletter from Student Services.
CTE September News – Monthly newsletter from CTE.
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
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
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.
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
CTE_Teachers SharePoint: https://slcsd.sharepoint.com/sites/CTE_Teachers
*Unless otherwise requested, information will run for 2 weeks only.
Attendance-Based Grade Reduction Update
ADMINISTRATIVE MEMORANDUM
To: Secondary School Principals and Teachers
From: Dr. Bri Conley, Director of Educational Equity & Access
Date: September 10, 2026
Subject: 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.
To ensure fairness and equity for all students, we will not use unexcused tardies as a basis for grade reductions until there is consistent implementation across the district. If teachers choose to implement attendance-based grade reductions, they can only use unexcused absences at this time.
Over the next several weeks, we will work with schools to establish a consistent districtwide process for recording tardies and office-excused arrivals, provide training on attendance coding, and improve procedures for documenting school-related activities, athletics, testing, and other approved absences that may be updated after the fact.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate this new requirement together. Our goal is to ensure that any attendance-related grade reductions are based on accurate, consistent data and applied equitably to all students.
School Attendance Webpage Template and Attendance Communications Guidance
ADMINISTRATIVE MEMORANDUM
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.
Attendance Coding Guidance Memo
ADMINISTRATIVE MEMORANDUM
To: School Secretaries and Principals
From: Dr. Bri Conley, Director of Educational Equity & Access
Date: September 10, 2026
Subject: 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.
This guidance is especially critical for secondary schools (grades 7-12), where teachers may apply grade reductions related to unexcused absences and unexcused tardies. To ensure equitable application of this practice, attendance coding procedures must be aligned and consistently followed districtwide before unexcused tardies are used for grading purposes. Consistent coding practices support fair treatment of students and strengthen the integrity of district attendance data.
A student who arrives late should not be changed to Present if they missed instructional time. Attendance records must accurately reflect the instructional time missed.
| Code | Use When... | Additional Guidance |
| X - Office Excused Tardy | The student arrives late (1-14 minutes) or tardy (15+ minutes), and a parent/guardian or the school provides a reason for the late arrival. Examples include appointments, illness, transportation issues, oversleeping, running late, family matters, meetings with school staff, testing, athletics, field trips, and other approved school activities. | Do not mark a student as Present simply because the tardy has been excused. Always record the student's arrival time and the reason for the late arrival in the PowerSchool attendance comments. If a parent provides an explanation for the late arrival by phone, email, Edia, or a written note, use the X attendance code for the class period in which the student arrives. If the student missed one or more class periods before arriving at school, those periods should first be marked Absent and then coded as Excused or Unexcused, based on the reason provided. The X code should only be used for the class period in which the student arrives. Example: If a student arrives during Period 3, Periods 1 and 2 should be marked Absent and then coded Excused or Unexcused, as appropriate. Period 3 should be coded X. |
| L - Late | The student arrives 1-14 minutes late and no excuse has been provided. | Use only for unexcused late arrivals. Do not change to X unless a parent/guardian or the school later provides an excuse. Horizonte exception: Due to Horizonte's unique schedule structure, which includes shorter class periods and terms than traditional secondary schools, students are considered late at 5 minutes after the start of class. |
| T - Tardy | The student arrives 15 or more minutes late and no excuse has been provided. | Use only for unexcused tardies. These tardies may impact attendance-based grade reductions in grades 7-12 if they remain unexcused. Horizonte exception: Due to Horizonte's unique schedule structure, which includes shorter class periods and terms than traditional secondary schools, students are considered tardy if they arrive more than 5 minutes after the start of class. |
| V - Verified Sluffing | The student is on campus but intentionally misses class and remains in the hallway, restroom, cafeteria, or another area instead of reporting to class. | Use according to your school's truancy/sluffing procedures. This is different from a student who is simply late or tardy to class. Each school should have a consistent process for identifying and coding verified sluffing. |
| R - Released for School-Related Activity | The student is out of class and released for an approved school activity (excluding seminary), such as a field trip, sporting event, choir performance, or visiting another school. | Whenever possible, enter the R code proactively rather than marking the student absent and correcting attendance later. |
| P - Partial Day | An elementary student leaves school before the end of the school day. | Use only when a student was present for part of the day and then checked out early. Do not use P for students who arrive late. Students arriving after the start of the school day should be coded X, L, or T, as appropriate, and the arrival time should be documented in PowerSchool comments. |
Excused Absences and Excusal Timeline
- A parent's acknowledgment that a student was absent does not automatically make the absence excused. Under Utah law, a reason must be provided before an absence can be excused.
- Parents/guardians have one week from the date of the absence to provide the reason for the absence. If a parent or guardian contacts the school but does not provide a reason, the absence must remain unexcused until a reason is received.
- After one week, the absence can no longer be changed to an excused absence. Absences that remain unexcused after one week must be coded as a truancy in accordance with Utah law.
| Situation | Guidance |
| Parent provides valid reason for an absence through Edia | The reason is automatically documented. |
| Parent reports an absence by phone | Obtain and document the reason before coding the absence as excused. |
| Parent requests an excused absence but does not provide a reason | Inform the parent that Utah law requires a reason before an absence can be excused. The absence must remain unexcused until a reason is provided. If a reason is not received within one week of the absence, the absence becomes a truancy. |
| Student has a cumulative GPA below 2.0 | The reason must fall within one of the categories identified in Utah law for the absence to count as excused. |
| Student has a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of the absence | A parent may provide any reason to justify the student's absence. |
Under Utah law (HB 145), absences may be excused for the following reasons:
- A physical or mental illness
- Family death
- Family event (in SLCSD this can include vacation)
- Observance of a religious holiday
- Participation in an approved school activity
- Competition in a rodeo sanctioned by an international, non-profit organization dedicated to the development of sportsmanship, horsemanship, and character in youth through the sport of rodeo
- An excuse consistent with the student's IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan
- Any reason a parent provides to justify a student's absence if the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0, including an event related to participation in:
- Mountain biking
- Shooting sports
- A Utah State University youth development program that provides educational experiences in agriculture, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, civic engagement, leadership, and healthy living through hands-on learning, mentoring, and community-based clubs or activities
Prerequisite classes, series classes, and auditions
Date: September 18, 2026
To: Secondary administrators
From: Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director
Teaching & Learning
Subject: Information about class taking patterns
Summary:
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. The rule also prohibits schools from using grades, assessment scores, grade level, teacher referral, or participation in an honors or college-preparatory course to deny access to these programs.
This restriction applies specifically to accelerated academic programs, but it demonstrates that students’ opportunity to participate should not depend only on having completed a specific prior course.
Some courses are intentionally sequential because the content builds from one course or grade level to the next (e.g., Secondary Math I, II, III). Other specialized courses—particularly advanced performing ensembles—may require students to demonstrate that they have the skills needed to participate successfully. An audition or skills demonstration is different from a prerequisite course.
A prerequisite requires a student to have enrolled in or completed a particular course. An audition assesses the student’s current skill level and readiness, regardless of how the student developed those skills.
Auditions may be appropriate for advanced orchestra, band, choir, dance, theatre, or other performance-based courses in which students must work together at a particular level. An audition may evaluate:
- Current musical, technical, or performance skills
- Readiness for the rigor and pace of the course
- Ability to perform the literature, repertoire, or skills required
- Ensemble balance or instrumentation needs
- Safety considerations associated with the activity
A student should not be required to complete a particular previous course before auditioning. Students may develop the necessary skills through school courses, private instruction, community programs, independent study, or personal experience.
To support equitable access, an audition or skills-based placement process should:
- Be open to all otherwise eligible students
- Measure skills directly related to the course
- Use clearly communicated and consistently applied criteria
- Provide appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities
- Avoid criteria based primarily on prior enrollment, teacher recommendation, or access to private instruction
- Provide students with placement information and, when possible, guidance about other opportunities for continued growth
The purpose of an audition is not to restrict access. It is to place students in an instructional setting where they can participate meaningfully, develop their skills, and contribute successfully to the ensemble or program.
Rationale:
Utah administrative rule R277-705 and R277-707-4
Keywords:
Audition, prerequisite, course sequence
New Requirements Under Utah’s School Food Additive Law — Effective 2026–2027 School Year
To: District Principals and Site Administrators
From: School Leadership and Support
Date: September 18, 2026
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.
A family-facing flier summarizing this law has also been distributed and is attached for your reference. Families have been directed to contact their school principal with questions, so please ensure your office is prepared to respond.
Summary of the Law
Beginning this school year, Utah public schools may not sell, donate, offer, or serve foods containing certain additives on school grounds during the school day. This requirement applies to school meals and any other food offered by the school, and it stems from Utah Code 53G-9-205.2 (HB 402, 2025 General Session).
Restricted Additives
The law restricts the following additives in food sold, donated, offered, or served on school grounds during the school day:
- Potassium bromate
- Propylparaben
- FD&C Blue No. 1 and No. 2
- FD&C Green No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 3 and No. 40
- FD&C Yellow No. 5 and No. 6
When the Restrictions Do Not Apply
The restrictions do not apply in the following circumstances:
- Food provided by a student's parent during the school day, for that student
- Food provided by a teacher, provided parent permission was obtained at the start of the semester
- Food sold in a vending machine
- Concession items sold at a school-sponsored event or extracurricular activity
Administrator Responsibilities
To ensure your school is compliant and prepared to support families, please take the following steps:
1. Obtain parent permission before offering restricted foods.
If your school plans to offer food containing one of the listed additives, parent permission must be obtained at the start of the semester before that food is served. Have a permission form process in place and ready to provide to families upon request.
2. Confirm compliance for all school-provided food.
School meals and any other food offered by the school during the school day must meet the new requirements. Coordinate with food service staff and any teachers or clubs that provide food to students to confirm ingredient compliance.
3. Review procedures for classroom and group food.
Staff, parent volunteers, or community members planning to provide food for a class or group should contact the school in advance to confirm procedures. Establish a simple point of contact so this is easy for families and staff to follow.
4. Ensure alignment with wellness policy.
All food must comply with G-3: Administrative Procedures – Wellness, in addition to this new law. Review your current wellness policy practices for consistency.
5. Prepare your office to field family questions.
The family flier directs questions to school principals. Make sure front-office staff are familiar with this guidance and know how to route questions appropriately.
6. Distribute the attached family flier.
Share the attached flier with families through your usual communication channels (newsletter, school website, or direct distribution) as soon as possible.
Questions
If you have questions about implementation at your school, please contact your Area Director.
Attachment: Utah's New Food Law — A Quick Guide for Families
Letters for Leadership v.11, e.5
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.
CELEBRATIONS – Please send to leeson.taylor@slcschools.org or angelina.tovar@slcschools.org by Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
ALL ADMINISTRATORS – Items for all building level administrators
DEADLINESPUBLISHED 2z026 Principal Tackle List.docx
Tackle List Feedback Survey – Fill out form. – Please fill this survey out for feedback regarding the Principal Tackle List.
ACTION ITEMS
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 Attendance Update September 2026.docx -this is the September attendance newsletter.
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.
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
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.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS –Items for middle school administration
DEADLINES
ACTION ITEMS
INFORMATION ITEMS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Items for elementary school administration
DEADLINES
ACTION ITEMS
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.
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.
Letters for Leadership v.10, e.5
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
DEADLINESPUBLISHED 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.
Update: Internal and External Grant Pre-Application Approval Process
TO: Teachers, Area Directors, and Administrators
DATE: Monday, August 24, 2026
FROM: James E. Yapias, Senior Director of Development and Salt Lake Education Foundation
RE: Update: Internal and External Grant Pre-Application Approval Process
Dear Colleagues,
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. This applies to all external grants as well as internal funding opportunities through the Salt Lake Education Foundation. This procedure has been required since April 2018. Note: This does not apply to grants submitted on the Utah Grant portal or federal grants, which continue to require approval from the Business Administrator.
The purpose of this process is to strengthen site and department support, encourage collaboration of resources, and enhance student achievement through a streamlined and coordinated approach. Please submit all proposed grants using the Grant Pre-Application Approval Link: https://apex.slcschools.org/apex/f?p=321.
Utilizing this required process ensures that the district and foundation operate from a clear, shared plan aligned with school improvement goals and community needs. It also allows us to communicate effectively with stakeholders, track reporting requirements, and prevent multiple funding requests that may fatigue our donor base.
Process Overview:
•
School administrators will be notified of any grant submission for their department/school and will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide pre-approval.
•
The foundation will be notified to ensure compliance with the district’s C-6 Fundraising Policy and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt requirements.
Required Pre-Submission Timeline:
•
Approval by impacted schools/departments: 15 business days before the grant application deadline
o
Approval by the Foundation Director: 10 business days before the grant application deadline
▪
All local, state, business/corporate, and foundation grants under $100,000
o
Approval by the Business Administrator: 10 business days before the grant application deadline
▪
All local, state, business/corporate, and foundation grants of $100,000 or more
If you have questions regarding the Grant Pre-Application Approval process, please contact me at James.Yapias@slcschools.org or 801-578-8268.
Thank you for your cooperation and for your continued commitment to supporting our students.
Sincerely,
James E. Yapias
Grant Memorandum Salt Lake Education Foundation
August 24, 2026 Page 2 of 2
406 East 100 South | Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 | Phone: 801.578.8268 | saltlakeeducationfoundation.org
GRANT PRE-APPLICATION APPROVAL GUIDE
Requester: Will auto populate with your name and employee number.
Requester Title/Worksite: Will auto populate with your title and worksite info.
Requester Department: Will auto populate with your department info.
Implementation Site: Where will the program take place?
Name of Grant Opportunity: What is the name of the external funder (external grant) or name of the program for SLEF funding request.
Funding Type: Select local, state, federal, business/corporate, foundation (for SLEF funding requests).
Program Focus: Special Event, Enhancement, After-School, Other
Program Title: What is the name of the program/activity?
Amount Requesting: What is the total dollar amount you are requesting?
Matching Funds: If yes, please list the amount your school or department is contributing in the Program Summary.
Is student data required? If yes, you need to complete a student request form on the information technology website. https://apex.slcschools.org/apex/f?p=151.
Date Grant Application is Due: Enter the date the grant application is due.
Proposed Implementation Date: Enter the date your program/activity starts.
Departments you need support from: Select the department you need support from (e.g., IT, Facility Services, etc.).
Required Support: If you require support from other departments, please detail it here.
Program Summary/detailed budget: Include a brief summary of the program or project for which you are requesting funding. Be sure to include a detailed breakdown of the budget and number of people this request serves.
Contact Information of Funder: For external funding applications, provide the organization’s name, address, phone number, and contact person’s name and email. You will also need to upload a complete copy of your application to the portal.
Letters for Leadership v.9, e.5
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
DEADLINESPUBLISHED 2026 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.
Enrollment Guidance Related to SB 167 – We recognize that schools have received a number of questions regarding student enrollment requirements and the implementation of SB 167. We appreciate your continued attention to this matter and your efforts to ensure that enrollment decisions are handled consistently and appropriately across the district.
Edia Implementation and Attendance Communication – See important information regarding our implementation of Edia attendance software.
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.
Transportation Contact Information -- As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we would like to share the Salt Lake City School District Transportation Department contact information to help ensure you can quickly connect with the appropriate staff for transportation-related needs.
UPDATE: UTA Passes for the 26-27 School Year – UTA is upgrading its fare payment system, which requires new transit cards for staff, guardians, and most students.
Standard Operating Procedures for Zūm Pass Usage, Student Boarding, and Space-Available (Transportation) – The Salt Lake City School District is implementing consistent procedures for Zūm pass usage, student boarding, transportation eligibility, and space-available transportation requests for the 2026–27 school year.
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.
KEEP –KEEP Kindergarten Testing ends September 4. Please ensure that all scores are entered and submitted to the Data Gateway by the end of the testing window.
Class Rosters for test tracking should arrive at your schools this week. Please include the completed Class Rosters when returning your testing materials. Refer to the Packing List or Teacher Checklist for instructions on returning materials.
Performance Matters – There is currently (8/26) an issue with course types in Performance Matters that will prevent most Math and Language Arts testing from being published and distributed.
Course types are required to publish and distribute tests within Performance Matters, and many course types are currently missing. I.T. is aware of this issue.
Missing Students – If students are missing from testing platforms such as Acadience or the Data Gateway, please work with I.T. and your school registrar to resolve the issue. Once the student’s information has been corrected, please allow 24–48 hours for the changes to be reflected in the testing platform.
RISE Interim Testing Update – Please be aware that the RISE testing platform is currently experiencing an issue with rostering in TIDE. At this time, we do not have an estimated timeline for when rostering will be restored. Because students cannot be properly rostered, schools will need to delay Fall RISE Interim testing until this issue has been resolved. We will share additional information as soon as we receive it.
NWEA Participation Dashboard – To To help monitor NWEA participation, we have a new dashboard that shows participation by school. You can find it here: NWEA - NWEA and Acadience Participation Report - Power BI
The dashboard will be updated daily, and you can see when it was last updated. Anyone with Power BI access can use it. This Dashboard will eventually include Acadience participation as well. This is a new product, so please let us know if something looks off or if you have any 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 August 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
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 City Education Foundation
School Leadership & Support
Administrative Memos
*Unless otherwise requested, information will run for 2 weeks only.
