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Summary:

During the annual Administrator Institute in July 2025, all administrators received an update on legislative changes, including new requirements related to toilet training.

The updated guidance is:

  • Schools must provide educational services to any student removed from school because of toilet training while they are at home.
  • Students may return to school for their Special Education minutes during the time they are working on toilet training at home.

During the elementary session, administrators asked the following questions. Responses are summarized below:

  • What if a student has a documented medical issue on a 504 plan, or toilet training concerns are part of an IEP?
    The student would not be removed from school. Appropriate accommodations would be made.
  • Can students have a goal on their IEP for toilet training?
    Toilet training goals can be written into an IEP if the toileting issue is directly related to the student’s disability and is necessary for their access to education (often as a functional or transition goal).
  • Can a student qualify for an IEP if they are not toilet trained?
    No. Toilet training by itself is not a disability. A student cannot have an IEP with a goal that is only toilet training.

If toileting concerns are developmental (a child is simply late in training) but not tied to a qualifying disability or medical condition, then it would not meet the threshold for IEP elibility.

In these cases, general education strategies and family support would be the avenue, not a formal plan.

Rationale:

H.B. 233 — School Curriculum Amendments prohibits local education agencies (i.e., public schools) from using or allowing health-related instruction or materials provided by entities that perform elective abortions. That includes materials created, funded, or donated by those providers, as well as any instruction delivered by their employees or volunteers.

SLCSD had approved several presentations from providers that are no longer permissible. The new Health curriculum will help support teachers in designing their instruction in Health I and Health II.

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication: 
  • Please make sure appropriate teachers and staff are aware.
  1. Collaboration: 
  • Contact Erin Anderson with questions.

Keywords:  Toilet training 

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Summary:

We have a new list of approved textbooks for 7-12 core social studies/history courses. When ordering textbook materials for social studies/history courses, please select from the approved list for the core classes:

  • Utah Studies
  • US History I
  • World Geography
  • World History
  • US History II
  • US Government & Citizenship. 

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication: 
  • The approved list of textbooks and the buy guides are located in the District Document Center under Teaching and Learning >> Social Studies. 
  • When ordering new textbook materials, teachers must select from the approved list. 
  • Depending on the available budget, teachers may choose from physical and/or digital materials. 
  • We recognize not all teachers will purchase materials. Purchasing social studies textbook materials is at the discretion of school administrator and/or teacher. 
  • For teachers using textbook materials as their main source of curriculum, it is important to update their materials within the school budgetary timeline for purchasing social studies materials. 
  • Schools purchase the materials. The T&L Department can help coordinate your order.
     
  1. Collaboration: 
  1. Timeline: 
  • August 20, 2025 through next adoption cycle (potentially 2032)

Keywords:  text books, social studies, history, approved materials, 7-12 

Published on

Summary:

We have a new approved textbooks Health I and Health II courses. The district is purchasing the teacher materials and a classroom set of student materials for every district Health teacher. Subsequent replacement will be the responbility of the school.

If schools choose to purchase online student licenses, they may do so from their site funds.

The books are:

  • Glencoe Teen Health (middle school)
  • Glencoe Health (high school)

Books are purchased through Mountain State Schoolbook Depository.

Rationale:

H.B. 233 — School Curriculum Amendments prohibits local education agencies (i.e., public schools) from using or allowing health-related instruction or materials provided by entities that perform elective abortions. That includes materials created, funded, or donated by those providers, as well as any instruction delivered by their employees or volunteers.

SLCSD had approved several presentations from providers that are no longer permissible. The new Health curriculum will help support teachers in designing their instruction in Health I and Health II.

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication: 
  •  Information about delivery will be forthcoming.
  • Information about a ½ day training will be forthcoming. Subs will be provided.
  1. Collaboration: 
  • Contact Katie Lowery with questions.
  1. Timeline: 
  • August 2025 through next adoption cycle (potentially 2032)

Keywords:  text books, health, curriculum, approved materials, 7-12 

Published on

As we kick off the new school year, we’d like to highlight a few important IT procedures.

After-Hours and Weekend IT Support

If you experience an IT issue outside regular hours, please submit an IT help ticket (https://helpdesk.slcschools.org).  When we receive a report of a network or system outage in the evening, it will be addressed the following morning.  If the request comes on the weekend, the problem will be worked on within 24-48 hours, though holiday support times may vary.

If you are having an activity after hours or on weekends relying on the computers or network and would like system support,  please schedule that with me at least two weeks in advance. Be prepared to provide an account number for potential technician overtime costs.

Monthly System Maintenance

To ensure the smooth operation of our IT systems, regular maintenance is necessary. We’ve established a maintenance schedule for the 2025-26 school year to minimize disruptions for staff and students.

Maintenance will occur on designated weekends each month, during which intermittent system outages may be expected. We will send out notifications each month detailing the affected systems.

The planned maintenance window is typically from 5 pm on Friday through Saturday.  Occasionally, maintenance may continue into Sunday.    Critical updates may be applied outside this planned maintenance schedule.

Please review the maintenance dates below and plan accordingly. 

  • August 29-30
  • September 26-27
  • October 24-25 (limited due to end of term)
  • November 14-15
  • December 19-20
  • January 23-24
  • February 27-28
  • March 27-28
  • April 17-18
  • May 15-16
  • June 26-27
  • July 17-18

IT Help Tickets

When requesting support, please remember to use the IT help ticket system (https://helpdesk.slcschools.org).   Tickets submitted through this system are prioritized over emails or phone calls. Utilizing the help ticket system allows us to better analyze data and improve our service.

We wish you a successful start of the school year.

Best regards,

Sam Quantz
Chief Information Officer
Salt Lake City School District
Office: 801.578.8329

www.slcschools.org

www.slcschools.org

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Principals,

Each year you should designate one member of your faculty to act as your school's Positive Behavior Specialist. This person will oversee your school's Positive Behavior Plan to address the causes of student use of tobacco, alcohol, electronic cigarette products, and other controlled substances as required by Utah law. This person should be a school counselor or teacher-leader as they qualify for a stipend to compensate them for this work. 

Please submit the name of your school's PBS to Alli Martin (allison.martin@slcschools.org) by August 22, 2025.

Thank you,

Alli

Alli Martin, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Director of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Prevention Services

Salt Lake City School District

Office: 801.578-8137 

www.slcschools.org 

Follow the district: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter  

Excellence and Equity: every student, every classroom, every day

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As shared during Admin Institute, our district is joining the Utah State Board of Education’s (USBE) attendance initiative, Every Day Counts, for the 2025–2026 school year. This initiative directly supports our District Board Goal to reduce chronic absenteeism from 28% to 10% by 2029.

To support this important work, USBE has provided a variety of resources through their Absenteeism and Truancy Prevention page, including:

  • Flyers to display throughout your schools
  • Attendance Handouts for Parents
  • Monthly social media templates and themes to promote attendance on your school's platforms

USBE is actively working to translate these materials to ensure accessibility for all families. If the Attendance Handout for Parents is not available in translated form by mid-next week, we will collaborate with our Communications Department to ensure it is translated and ready for distribution.

Our Communications Department will also continue developing additional tools throughout the year to reinforce this message.

Back to School Night is a great opportunity to introduce the challenge to families. Please emphasize that improving student attendance is a district priority, and we are committed to supporting families in every way possible. Families in need of support can reach out to their school counselors, who are ready to assist with accessing resources and meeting basic needs.

Please also encourage your teachers to join us in promoting the Every Day Counts message. It’s just 180 days and we’re making each one count.

Let’s ensure families know it takes a village to improve attendance, and we can’t do it without them. Their partnership is essential to helping every student succeed.

As we look ahead, please keep in mind that September is Attendance Awareness Month. We’ll be resharing ideas and strategies to help promote it and build momentum. Since our goal is to bring awareness every month, this is a great time to start thinking about how your school can participate.

We are equally committed to supporting you in this work. If you have any questions about the attendance challenge or need support with anything related to attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m available and happy to assist in any way I can.

I’m excited for what we will accomplish together this year!

In solidarity,

Bri Conley, Ed.D. 

Director, Educational Equity and Access

Salt Lake City School District

Office: 801-578-8281

slcschools.org

Follow the district: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter   

Excellence and Equity: every student, every classroom, every day

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Dear High School Team,

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to creating positive, safe, and inclusive school environments. As we begin the new school year, I would like to reaffirm and formally document our shared expectations related to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation across our high schools.

These expectations have been reviewed and communicated previously through written correspondence and in multiple meetings. The following practices are essential components of our districtwide efforts to build a consistent and supportive culture across all secondary campuses:

  1. Hall Pass Protocols: Teachers will keep hall passes behind their desks so they are not immediately accessible to students.
  2. Classroom Dismissal: Teachers will not dismiss students early from class.
  3. Visual Expectations: Schools will hang visual behavior expectations in common areas to reinforce positive norms and support clarity for all students.
  4. Active Supervision: Teachers will be present in hallways during passing periods to promote school safety, foster positive interactions, and support a welcoming school climate. 

In addition, a small team comprised of school and district administrators will begin conducting PBIS walk-through observations to gather implementation data. These visits are intended to provide formative feedback and highlight areas of strength and opportunity. The observation tool is currently being finalized and will be shared with you in advance of any scheduled walk-throughs. Our collective goal is to ensure that expectations are being applied consistently and effectively, aligned with our district’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and student well-being.

Thank you once again for modeling the leadership and professionalism that make Salt Lake City School District a great place for students to learn and thrive. Should you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Dear High School Principals,

In our continued efforts to promote consistency and fairness across the district, we are implementing updated guidelines for allocating the 120 non-UHSAA days to staff.

Please note the following:

  1. Schools may use up to the specified number of days for each activity; however, it is perfectly acceptable to use fewer if that better aligns with your school’s needs.
  2. Individual activities should not exceed their designated allocation. For example, if six days are assigned to yearbook, that is the maximum permitted for that duty. The miscellaneous days are intended solely for activities not outlined in the plan.
  3. Please be aware that Esports and Unified Sports were inadvertently omitted from the UHSAA chart in the original agreement. Currently in 2025-2026 WA, we need to add: Esports 16 days for HC, 9 days for AC for a total of 25 days, and Unified Sports 14 days for HC,  9 days for AC for a total of 23 days.

Thank you for your continued leadership and collaboration in supporting equitable practices throughout our schools. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Proposal for 120 Non-UHSAA days Distribution

Schools may use UP TO…

Should be able to produce evidence of time spent if asked

Activity                        Days

Dance                           8

Pep Band/Club             8

Newspaper                   6

Literary magazine         6

Yearbook                      6

Plays/musicals             (5 per performance) 15 (Plus 7 days for Drama from other chart)

SB Govt                        12

Music performances     8 (Plus 14 days for Music Instrument and Music Vocal from other chart)

Stage tech support       10

Filming/TV                     8

Fine Arts                        5

School (not student)
club advisors                  20

Misc                                8

Total                               120

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Dear Principals, Counselors, Department Directors, and SCC Chairs:

I am writing to provide you with an update regarding our ongoing collaboration with Salt Lake City Corporation, Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Salt Lake Education Foundation and Salt Lake City School District. This partnership is designed to improve transportation accessibility for our students, parents/guardians, and staff.

Please review the following updates and procedural reminders:

Bus Pass Access:

  • Current Pass Holders: Students who already possess a UTA bus pass will find that their pass remains active.
  • New or Replacement Passes: Students who are new to the district, require a pass for the first time, or those who have lost their bus pass can request one through their school secretary during registration or throughout the year.

How to Request:
To request more blank bus passes for students, staff, parents/guardians:
 

  • Please coordinate with your school secretary.
  • The secretary will submit a desk ticket to Information Technology (IT). 
  • IT will then provide the schools with blank cards for the school to assign accordingly. SLCSD Helpdesk Portal

UTA Field Trip Pass:
 

UTA bus passes may now be utilized for student field trips, contingent upon prior approval from the school principal. All field trips must adhere to the district’s established approval procedures and maintain appropriate chaperone ratios.

  • You will need one pass-holding adult to accompany every ten students. Please note: Since our school district has an agreement with UTA, our students are NOT limited on the number of field trips taken per year.
  • To Schedule a Field Trip:
    • Go to  UTA Field Trip Scheduling Page
    • Click on “Schedule a Field Trip”
    • Fill out the information about the field trip (students, chaperones, destination, date, etc.) on the form
    • Download Transit App and create a Transit Account with an email address
    • UTA representative will contact requestor within 3 business days to confirm scheduled field trip and/or instructions to access the field trip pass. Pass will be sent to requestor via Transit app.

Bus Routes and OnDemand Services:
 

For information regarding bus routes and OnDemand transportation options, refer to the following resources.


UTA Informational Materials:
 

UTA has provided instructional materials in both English and Spanish, including video guides on:
“Tips for Riding,” “How to Plan a Trip” and “How to Use Your Pass.” Please see the SLCSD transit “How-To” videos linked below:

Frequently Asked Questions:

For any further inquiries or assistance, please contact utacontact@saltlakeeducationfoundation.org or Salt Lake City School District: 801.578.8269.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in making transportation more accessible and convenient for our school community.

Sincerely,

James E. Yapias
James.Yapias@slcschools.org

Published on

Title:               August Professional Development Days (Update with Times and Locations)

Date:              August 7, 2025

To:                  All Administrators

From:             Katie Ieremia, Supervisor for Academic Records & Credit and Professional Development, Teaching and Learning

   Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director, Teaching and Learning

Subject:         August schedule and content

Summary:

The schedule has previously been released but the times and locations are now available in the spreadsheet below. By August, all teachers will be pre-registered and will receive an email from Kickup outlining their registration. (If they have a mistake on their registration, they should email professional.development@slcschools.org. Due to the volume of communication at the beginning of the school year, phone calls and emails to individuals cannot be responded to in a timely manner.)

Key learning for Day 2:

  1. Elementary
    1. Literacy / reading
    2. Inclusion and differentiation in math
    3. Performance Matters assessment platform
  2. Middle and High
    1. Content area focus and planning
    2. Math and ELA: Performance Matters assessment platform
  3. New curriculum materials for:
    1. Grades 6-8 Science
    2. Middle and High Health
    3. Middle and High Social Studies

Expectations for Implementation:

  1. Communication:
  2. Principals play a key role in communicating this information in their summer letter to their faculty.
  3. An email from Kickup, will be sent to each teacher with their registration and then a reminder email will be sent the day before each teacher’s “Opening Day” and “Day 2”.
  4. Collaboration:
  5. Email professional.development@slcschools.org if registration email from Kickup is incorrect or not received in school email by the second week of August.
  6. Evaluation:
  7. All participants will receive a feedback form for each of their two district days.

Keywords: Professional development, Kickup, August

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