On Tuesday, December 06, 2022, the MSCS Board passed Policy 5021: Library Services and Collections. The policy outlines MSCS requirements to meet the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022.  The policy states the following: (1) requires schools to maintain a current list of materials in the school’s library collection and post it on the school’s website. Classroom libraries must also follow the guidelines set forth by the State and MSCS District policies, (2) authorize the Superintendent to develop additional criteria for developing school library collections, (3) establish criteria for developing and periodically reviewing school library collections, and (4) establishes procedures for the Board to receive, evaluate, and appropriately respond to concerns regarding one or more materials in a school’s library collection.  

Required School Actions - Due February 27, 2023 

All materials made available to students for the school, inclusive of classrooms, but does not include materials made available to students as a part of a course curriculum must be listed on the school’s website. The MSCS Procedures for the Development of the School Library Collection for Guidance document on how to select materials for the school library collections is attached. 

School library collections available in the library database (Atriuum) have been posted to each school’s website. The report from Atriuum will automatically update weekly. There is no further action needed for school libraries to post lists. 

Classroom library lists must be posted by the school Webmaster by February 27, 2023. To assist schools with this process, please review the Guidance for Posting of Classroom Library Lists document. Once the lists have been created and finalized, the school’s webmaster will need to follow the directions listed in the Adding Classroom Materials document.  

All classroom libraries must be posted by February 27, 2023. For any additional concerns or questions, you have regarding the new policy, please contact Library Services at 901-416-5382 or Alicia Fields at fieldsa@scsk12.org.   

Please add any attachments

Procedures for the Development of the School Library Collection.pdf

Guidance for Posting of Classroom Library Lists.pdf

Classroom Library Materials .xlsx

Adding Classroom Materials Files.pdf

MSCS Reconsideration Form.pdf

On Tuesday, December 06, 2022, the MSCS Board passed Policy 5021: Library Services and Collections. The policy outlines MSCS requirements to meet the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022.  The policy states the following: (1) requires schools to maintain a current list of materials in the school’s library collection and post it on the school’s website. Classroom libraries must also follow the guidelines set forth by the State and MSCS District policies, (2) authorizes the Superintendent to develop additional criteria for developing school library collections, (3) establishes criteria for developing and periodically reviewing school library collections, and (4) establishes procedures for the Board to receive, evaluate, and appropriately respond to concerns regarding one or more materials in a school’s library collection.  

All materials made available to students for the school, inclusive of classrooms, but does not include materials made available to students as a part of a course curriculum must be listed on the school’s website. The MSCS Procedures for the Development of the School Library Collection for Guidance document on how to select materials for the school library collections is attached. 

School library collections available in the library database (Atriuum) have been posted on each school’s website. The report from Atriuum will automatically update weekly. There is no further action needed for school libraries to post lists. 

Additional information regarding classroom libraries will be shared during the January 2023 Principal’s meeting. For any additional concerns or questions, you have regarding the new policy, please contact Library Services at 901-416-5382 or Alicia Fields at fieldsa@scsk12.org.   

Procedures for the Development of the School Library Collection.docx

High school students with active Tier II or III intervention plans will need to complete the Imagine Reading and Math Diagnostic Assessments during the winter assessment window occurring January 3rd through 13th. This is a change from what was originally published in the MSCS Assessment Calendar.  Please reach out to your RTI2 Advisor or the RTI2 Helpdesk (rti2@scsk12.org) with any questions.

Happy New Year!  As we kick off this 2nd Semester, the Curriculum & Instruction Department wants to remind everyone that all Quarter 3 Curriculum Products (PLC Protocols, Prescriptions, Reteaching Calendars, and Standards Aligned Items) were posted to the C&I Curriculum Maps SharePoint prior to winter break.   http://www.scsk12.org/ci/maps.php?PID=1226

ALL students are required to complete online registration for 2023-24 school year.  

• Online Registration will launch Tuesday, January 17, 2023, for all new and returning students in Memphis Shelby County Schools.
• School Choice (General and Optional) application will open Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 10 a.m.
• Enrollment, Registration and Attendance training will be offered to school staff during the month of January and February.
• Students who do not register will not be considered enrolled for the 2023-24 school year.
• Yearly updates to demographic data, opt-in/out, and health information are required for all students.

Team would like to spotlight Lauren Hobson. Lauren has brought to life the 5 SEL strategies, established by SEED’s SEL team to empower students with strategies to address their Social Emotional Learning needs. Click to view Student Spotlight Document.

Is Social Emotional Learning on your mind? The district will continue to utilize ReThink to make the SEL connection. Do you want your ReThink scope and sequence for second semester?  See ReThink Scope and Sequence 2nd Semester and Teacher Module 2nd Semester .

Please complete Wellness Center Referral Form and email it to wellnesscenter@scsk12.org to notify pertinent individuals of students who are referred for alcohol and drug counseling or who are referred to the Wellness Center. 

REMEMBER to click the identified behavior/purpose of the referral.

Please see the flyer for January new teacher professional learning opportunities.

Please ensure you and your staff meet the state licensure requirement: According to the 2021 Tennessee Literacy Success Act, all educators who hold specific endorsements that allow them to teach reading in grades K-5 must complete an approved foundational skills course to renew their license by August 1, 2023. 

The TLSA license requirement applies to ANY educator—including non-teacher types, administrators, central office staff--who holds an endorsement included in this requirement.  

MSCS is committed to ensuring that all of our educators meet this requirement.  If you have completed one of the state-approved foundational skills courses.  Please use the link below to upload your certificate of completion for either asynchronous ERT Course 1 or SLT Course 1.

https://forms.office.com/r/WbJLZ1fnW8 

For more information on the TN Licensure Requirement, a list of included endorsements, and access the required asynchronous course, click the link below.

TN_LSA_Training_and_Licensure_Requirements.pdf

For district-level support, contact the Early Literacy Office at 901-416-4801 or email EarlyLiteracyDept@scsk12.org.

Do you know someone interested in becoming a MSCS Assistant Principal?

Remember, to apply for a Vice Principal or Assistant Principal position, that person must complete the MSCS Aspiring Leader Fellowship Program - Vice & Assistant Principal Pipeline.

Information on 2023-2024 Pipeline is coming this Spring.​

For more information contact Taraniese (Tari) Harris, Program Leadership Director (harristc1@scsk12.org).

School Leaders, we look forward to you joining us January 9-12 for January 2023 Leadership Development Week. Please wear colors or paraphernalia of Greek, fraternal, and non-Greek affiliated organizations.

Participants (PLC Coaches/Instructional Facilitators, ILT, DLA, Professional School Counselors) should register in PLZ using the course codes below. Please bring a fully charged laptop to all in-person sessions. 

Click HERE to access January LDW Agendas.
 

PLC Coaches & Instructional Facilitators

• 1/9 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., TLA Auditorium
• PLZ Course Code: 32159

ILT Teacher Content Leaders

• 1/9 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Virtual
• Access ILT TEACHER CONTENT LEADERS Meeting Link
• PLZ Course Code: 32160

Principals

• 1/10 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., TLA Auditorium
• TASL Credit will be applied following the meeting.

K-2 Specialized Education Assistants

Kindergarten: 1/10 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Virtual

• Click here to join the meeting

• PLZ Course Code: 31857

1st Grade: 1/11 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Virtual

• Click here to join the meeting

• PLZ Course Code: 31859

2nd Grade: 1/12 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Virtual

• Click here to join the meeting

• PLZ Course Code: 31860

Digital Learning Ambassadors

• 1/10 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. OR 1/12 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., TLA Multipurpose Room
• PLZ Course Code: 32161

Vice Principals & Assistant Principals

• 1/11 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. OR 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., TLA Auditorium
• TASL Credit will be applied following the meeting.

Professional School Counselors

• High Schools - 1/12 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., TLA Auditorium
• Elementary & Middle Schools - 1/12 12:30p.m. - 4:30 p.m., TLA Auditorium
• PLZ Course Code: 32400

The Optional Application Processing Training will be held on Wednesday, January 18, at Ridgeway Middle School. Please contact Linda Sklar or Jennifer Boland if you have questions.

AP Student Saturday Review will be held on Saturday, January 28, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sessions for 14 AP courses will be offered. Lunch will be served. 

Please share this information with your AP teachers and students. Contact James Smith if you have questions.

Optional Admittance Test Training will be held on Tuesday, February 21 (9 a.m.) at Oak Forest Elementary School. Please contact Linda Sklar if you have questions.

The Optional Schools Fair will be held on Sunday, January 8, from 1 - 4 p.m. As a reminder, the new location is the Holiday Inn (U of M location) at 3700 Central Avenue. School representatives may set up between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sunday. Please contact Linda Sklar if you have questions.

To ensure that all MSCS honors teachers comply with state and district requirements that govern advanced courses, teachers must submit honors documentation of compliance each year. Virtual honors compliance trainings will be held to reiterate policy requirements, communicate the honors compliance process, and discuss best practices on the following dates: 

PLZ# 66486
Honors Compliance Meeting Link 1/11/23 

PLZ# 66487

Honors Compliance Meeting Link 1/26/23 

Please ask your NEW (or struggling) honors teachers to attend one session. 

Please find the January Professional Learning Catalog with our January professional learning opportunities.

If you are in need of completing a TASL Credit Recovery in order to renew your license, please submit a request here.  If you need assistance with uploading TASL credits into TNCompass, please view this step sheet. Email Emily Vuoso, vuosoeb@scsk12.org with any additional questions related to TASL.  For licensure questions, email HRCompliance@scsk12.org .

Principals, be on the lookout for an email from the District URS-AGM lead, Ayodele Hall.  The email will contain teachers who have been rostered as the ELA Teacher of Record for KK-2nd grade classrooms to use as their final Student Growth score for SY22-23.  You and/or your designee, will review the roster and submit any corrections or deletions by Friday, January 20, 2023. 
 

Click here for guidance on the usage of the Universal Reading Screener as the Growth Measure for KK-2nd Grade ELA teachers.  

The deadline to complete School Administrator TEAM Cycle 1 observations has been extended to January 10, 2023. 

The deadline to complete ILD Cycle 1 observations is January 13, 2023.

The TEM TEACHer Training Series is now open for ALL teachers. The series aims to identify teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3-5 of the TEACH indicators. 

Register in PLZ, course #26177.

Registration is open for SY22-23 Professionalism Training. 

Click here for additional information, including how to register.

The MSCS Compass is a new one-stop shop for all your PowerBI reports, including the new and improved Student Profile, which is now called Student Data 360. Watch our introduction and navigation video here - Intro to MSCS Compass
 

ATTENTION Counselors – We need your help! Please go in and check your intervention plans in BrightBytes and remove the “Protected” access flag. This is very important and impacts the ability to see accurate RTI-B compliance and Progressive Discipline information in PowerBI.

For more information on how to remove the Protected flag, look here.

What’s in PowerBI?

• Check out all of the reports we have available, here.

Trainings 

• Virtual Office Hours: This week (1/10 and 1/12), we will have another Open Floor Q&A session. Please bring any questions you have about reporting, access, etc. We will be on call to help with any issues you are experiencing. Next week (1/17 and 1/19), we will go over the new Literacy Commitment dashboard.
  • VOH is held every week on Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 PM
  • The format alternates every other week between an Open Floor Q&A session and an overview of a new and/or relevant report.
  • Recordings go out to anyone on the calendar invite and will be available on our Support Page.
  • Sign up at this link today!

Under Construction

• Ready Grad - ASVAB – Coming Mid-January
• Digital Citizenship – Coming Early February
• We are working on optimizing performance on as many reports as possible and your feedback is crucial. Please reach out if you experience any issues so that we can identify major pain points. Email us at DAIMSUPPORT@scsk12.org
• Does something in a dashboard look wrong? Check our Data Quality Updates.

NEW Releases and Features

• Check out our release plan, available here!
• Reports that are now available:

• 1:1 Devices
• Early Literacy (Central Office Staff Only)
• Student Data 360: Students Assessment: SPL Report
• Ready Graduates: Industry Certifications
• Feeder Pattern: District Quick Report
• System Optimizations: Student Data 360 reports have been optimized to load at a much faster rate. These include:
  • Student Attendance
  • Student Assessment
  • Student Discipline
  • Student Enrollment
  • Student Grades
  • Student Immunization
  • Student Snapshot
  • Student Surveys

Support

• Power BI Access: Principals can give school staff members access through the PowerBI Access App. If you see someone in the Access App that should be removed from your school, contact DAIM Support (DAIMSUPPORT@scsk12.org) and we can assist.
• Support Resources: Check out the DAIM Support SharePoint site, complete with additional video tutorials, walkthrough guides, and more!

MSCS will conduct a district-wide online practice test January 25, 2023, with the TestNav software that will be used for TCAP testing in the spring. All district-managed schools with grades 6-8 or high school grades will be required to participate in the online practice test. Charter schools will also be encouraged to participate.

The goal will be to identify any technology-related issues before the real testing window. In addition, a second online practice test is being planned for the week of March 6.

We will provide more details about the January online practice test soon.