Here is a list of acronyms that will help you understand education better. Please see the attached file at the bottom with the same information, but hyperlinks to help you save time.
504 | Section 504 of the Americans Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination based upon disability. A plan created for "a student with an impairment that results in limitations of one or more major life activities." |
AAPAC | Assessment and Accountability Policy Advisory Committee who review current assessment and accountability policies and implementation decisions. |
ACEESS | Advisory Committee on Equity of Educational Services for Students |
AD/HD | Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (A neurobiological-based developmental disability estimated to affect between 3-5% of the school age population). |
AFT | American Federation of Teachers |
ATC | Applied Technology College |
CAFR | Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |
CAT | Computer Adaptive Test |
CCRP | College and Career Readiness Plan (Personalized plan for each student for college and career preparation). |
CCSSI | Common Core State Standards Initiative (A set of college and career ready standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts/literacy and mathematics). |
CHADD | Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder |
COBI | Compendium of Budget Information (details of Utah's budget and related financial authorizations). |
CTE | Career and Technical Education (Career focused programs that result in attainment of credentials). |
DARE | Drug Awareness Resistance Education |
ELL | English Language Learner (Any students who are not native speakers but are currently learning how to speak English). |
ESL | English as a Second Language (process for non-native speakers to learn English). |
ESEA | Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965: Pres. Johnson's "War on Poverty" funds primary and secondary education). |
ESSA | Every Student Succeeds Act (2015: Pres. Obama's reauthorization of ESEA). |
FERPA | Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Protects the privacy of student education records). |
GED | Graduation Equivalency Diploma |
IDEA |
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Federal legislation that ensures students with disabilities are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education [FAPE]). |
IEP | Individualized Education Program (Plan for a student with one or more of 13 specific disabilities listed in IDEA. Disability must affect the child's educational performance and ability to learn). |
LAND | Learning and Nurturing Development (The School LAND Trust Program creates an endowment for education from parcels of land granted to Utah at the time of statehood. Consists of SITLA, SITFO, the School Children's Trust Office [ALLOCATION] and SCCs). |
LEA | Local Education Agency (School District or Charter School). |
NAEP | National Assessment of Educational Progress (A national assessment given to a representative sample of students across the country). |
NCLB | No Child Left Behind (2001: Pres. George W. Bush's reauthorization of ESEA). |
NEA | National Educational Association |
NSBA | National School Boards Association |
PD | Professional Development |
PLC | Professional Learning Community (A group of educators who work together to improve teaching skills and the academic performance of students). |
RISE | Readiness, Improvement, Success, Empowerment (state assessment) |
SAGE | Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence (Retired test. See RISE.) |
SCC | School Community Council (An advisory body consisting of the principal, elected school employees, and parents who determine the best use of the Trust Funds at their individual schools. Disbursement of trust lands funds.) |
SCSB | State Charter School Board |
SAR | Students at Risk |
SEA | State Education Agency |
SITLA | Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands administration (manages the 3.3 million acre land portfolio for public schools, generating revenues through oil, gas, and mineral leases, rents, royalties, real estate development, and sales. Management of Trust Lands funds). |
SITFO | Utah School and Institutional Trust Funds Office (invests the Permanent School Fund. Investment of Trust Lands funds.) |
SIP | School Improvement Plan (Part of Utah law. The school community council shall annually evaluate the school's statewide achievement test results, reading achievement plan, class size reduction needs, and technology needs, and use the evaluations in developing a school improvement plan to improve teaching and learning conditions.) |
SPED | Special Education (defined and regulated by IDEA, special education refers to a range of service provided to children with specific disabilities, ages 3-21, for educational purposed). |
UAESP | Utah Association of Elementary School Principals |
UAN | Utah Afterschool Network |
UAPCS | Utah Association of Public Charter Schools |
UASCD | Utah Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (organization dedicated to providing professional development to Utah's educational leaders). |
UASSP | Utah Association of Secondary School Principals |
UCSA | Utah Charter School Association |
UEA | Utah Education Association |
UHSA | Utah Home Schools Association |
UPEC | Utah Public Education Coalition (A group of education stakeholders including UEA, Utah PTA, USBA, and the professional organizations for school principals, district superintendents, non-teaching school employees, and education deans). |
USBA | Utah School Boards Association |
USBE | Utah State Board of Education (sets state policy regarding assessment, accountability, standards, and funding). |
USDOE | US Department of Education (Federal assistance, collect data, and enforce educational laws regarding privacy and civil rights). |
USSA | Utah School Sports Association |
WPU | Weighted Pupil Unit (a common factor used to determine the cost of a program on a uniform basis). |