Memphis-Shelby County Schools shared this special message along with safety reminders to students and families. 

Dear MSCS Families,

As fellow Memphians, we share your concerns about the recent rise in crime rates in our city. Given this citywide issue, we understand that you may have questions about your children's well-being while at school.

At Memphis-Shelby County Schools, we prioritize creating a supportive learning environment for every student. We are proud to report that 90% of MSCS students have maintained perfect conduct this year, meaning they have not committed any major rule infractions and are consistently demonstrating appropriate behavior. We celebrate the efforts of these students and remain committed to supporting the remaining 10% to help them achieve success.

Over the past few years, MSCS has implemented a comprehensive safety plan, including:

• A $50 million investment in enhanced security infrastructure, including additional cameras, access control systems, and metal detectors
• Additional training for staff on identifying students in crisis and providing trauma-informed care
• Ongoing focus groups with students to hear community concerns
• A districtwide social-emotional learning curriculum to equip students with conflict-resolution strategies 

MSCS maintains close collaboration with law enforcement agencies to coordinate efforts. We continuously monitor neighborhood reports and regularly evaluate our safety protocols to ensure we are taking every possible measure to protect our students and staff. As we learn of safety concerns and trends, we want to share that information with you. At the top of our list currently: 

• Appropriate Clothing: Board policy specifically prohibits wearing head apparel (such as hoods and hats) inside school, except for religious or medical reasons. Sunglasses are also prohibited, except for health purposes. These items can hide the identity of the person wearing them, and it is critically important for school security and staff to know who is in the building at all times.
• School Door Security: Tennessee’s new school safety law requires all K-12 schools to keep exterior doors locked and restrict access to one secure entrance. Doors should never be propped open, and strangers should never be allowed into school without going through established security checks.

In addition to these measures, we encourage families to take proactive steps. We welcome your role as an extra set of eyes and ears. Please report any rumors or concerning behavior to our TrustPays Program at 528-CASH (528-2274). We also encourage parents and guardians to implement the Three Key Checks daily:

• Check your children's homework to ensure it's neat and complete.
• Check their devices to ensure they are used for District-approved purposes only.
• Check their backpacks to ensure they contain only school-related items.

We believe that a strong partnership between our school, families, and community is essential for ensuring safety, as it is a shared responsibility. We appreciate your collaboration in keeping our schools safe. 

Sincerely,

Toni Williams, MSCS Interim Superintendent

Carolyn Jackson, MSCS Chief of Safety & Security