LEAs Begin Rolling Over to School Year 2026 After Streamlined Data Submission Guidance

In a significant update for local education agencies (LEAs) in Utah, officials announced that LEAs can now begin rolling over to the 2026 school year earlier than in previous years. This decision, communicated via email on July 23, aims to streamline the data submission process and alleviate concerns about meeting deadlines before the new school year starts.

Cliff's team, responsible for overseeing the rollover process, reported that they were able to expedite the timeline, allowing LEAs to clear errors sooner. This proactive approach is designed to ensure that all necessary data is finalized and submitted in a timely manner, reducing the stress often associated with the transition to a new academic year.

During the meeting, officials emphasized the importance of finalizing data accurately and on time. They reminded LEAs to download and save relevant reports after each finalized period, as these documents are crucial for record-keeping and can be requested by auditors. The officials also highlighted the need for LEAs to turn off daily schedule collections at year-end to prevent any potential data discrepancies.

The meeting addressed common questions regarding the rollover process, clarifying that while LEAs can roll over their data in their Student Information Systems (SIS), they must be cautious not to submit any data to UTRX prematurely. This careful approach is essential to avoid complications that could arise from rolling over too early, especially if issues with previous data submissions are identified.

As the school year approaches, these changes are expected to enhance the efficiency of data management for Utah's education agencies, ultimately benefiting students and educators alike.