Utah

Utah

Programs and People: 

Stephanie Patton, State Director
Utah State Board of Education
250 East 500 South
P.O. Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone: (801) 538-7989
stephanie.patton@schools.utah.gov

Danielle Pedersen
Adult Education Specialist
Utah State Board of Education
250 East 500 South
P.O. Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT  84114
Phone:  (801) 538-7925
danielle.pedersen@schools.utah.gov

Alexandra Ellerman
Adult Education Program Specialist
Utah State Board of Education
250 East 500 South
P.O. Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone: (801) 538-7899
Alexandra.ellerman@schools.utah.gov

Adam Little
IT Analyst
Utah State Board of Education
250 East 500 South
P.O. Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone: (801) 538-7638
Adam.little@schools.utah.gov

Assessments: 

ABE: TABE 11 & 12 and CASAS Reading GOALS and Math GOALS (Math GOALS 2.0 in 2024-2025 and ACT WorkKeys and TABE 13/14 if approved)

ESL: BEST Plus 2.0, BEST Literacy, CASAS (Changed to BEST Plus 3.0, Best Literacy 2.0 in 2024-2025)

Data Systems: 

Advansys by Benchmark Integrated Technology Services; Utah Online Performance Information for Adult Education (UTopia) is Utah's database. (Changed to Utah Adult Student Information System (UASIS) in 2024-2025)

Followup Methods: 

GED: Data Match
Employment: Data Match and Survey
Transition to Postsecondary Education or Training: Data Match and Survey

Data Tools for Monitoring and Program Improvement: 

UTopia has an email system that allows programs to email state staff for assistance when errors are made, state staff are assigned to monitor the email daily and work with developers and programs to correct program data entry errors. Additionally, state staff are assigned desk monitoring responsibilities for all programs to review data entry monthly.

Reports are built into UTopia that allow programs to see in real time who needs pre and post-testing and monitor program outcomes. UTopia time stamps assessments when they are entered into the database and sets the EFL for the student based upon the scores entered. Programs are provided extensive training in how and when to assess students. Parameters are also detailed in the UTopia user manual and the state assessment policy. Auditors validate program’s assessment protocols as reported in UTopia. State staff double check data entry during program reviews.

UTopia includes a survey process that allows programs to generate a list of persons that need to complete a survey and tracks the programs interactions with those persons. Outcomes received from completed surveys will be entered into UTopia.

(While the system will change on 7/1/24 to UASIS, all the above will continue to happen using UASIS instead).

State Tools and Resources: 

FEATURED RESOURCES

Explore featured resources related to WIOA and the NRS including: state guidance, reporting, and external WIOA resources.

Reporting Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) Types 3, 4, and 5

NRS Technical Assistance (TA) Guide—Revised March 2021

WIOA and NRS Resources

Distance Education Tips

NRS Reporting Tables