School Leaders,
As you begin preparing for your end of year close out with your staff, we would like to request that you ask your teachers to submit evidence of the following:
- End of Year Inventory Roster
- eTIGER Report
- SSQI - Completion
- Industry Credential Report/Certificates

Please reach out to Regina Nichols at nicholsre@scsk12.org if you have any questions.

Thanks for all you do!!!!

Tennessee Literacy Success Act

Effective August 1, 2023, in accordance with the Tennessee Literacy Success Act (2021), 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.  MSCS is working to ensure our educators, school leaders, and district staff meet this requirement. Please complete this brief survey and upload your certificate of course completion for either asynchronous ERT Course 1 or SLT Course 1.

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

For questions, please contact the Early Literacy Department at 901.416.4801 or email EarlyLiteracyDept@scsk12.org.

For more information on the TN Licensure Requirement, click the link below.

TN_LSA_Training_and_Licensure_Requirements.pdf

RTIB Coaches Group Email - Add Me! Click Here

We are now approaching the end of an amazing school year. I am emailing to remind you all of a few things. I hope that the RTIB SharePoint has been helpful to you this school year. I will be adding new information and PowerPoint presentation to prepare you and your staff next year as it relates to RTIB/ Classroom Management. 

Please do not forget to submit your TIPS monthly meeting minutes. I have uploaded a space on the SharePoint for those to be placed in. At this time, we should have January, February and March meeting minutes in. 

Also please note that the TFI for the Spring is also due next month. We are asking for you to have it in by May 12th. I have added a folder to the SharePoint for these to be placed in as well. 

Remember all the forms you need are under the Tier 1/ Tier 2 Forms; Please Download and save before you edit. I am attaching the SharePoint in case you do not have access. If you do not, once you request access, I will be able to grant it and move you forward. 

RTI2-B Coaches SharePoint - Click Here

• Please remember to wrap up al RTIB Services in BrightBytes.

• Please note that if you have Request for RTI2B Supports - Click Here - We will do our best to respond as soon as possible. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your District Counselor or Coach if you have any questions. If you do not know who these individuals are, contact Kelvin Hart via email at HARTKB@scsk12.org

Hello School Leaders,

As we work toward a successful closing of the school year, please be reminded of the important role that attendance, chronic absenteeism, and discipline all play in maintaining a positive school culture.  As a gentle reminder when considering out of school suspensions, please take a moment to review the important information shared by our Department of Student Equity, Enrollment & Discipline (S.E.E.D.).

From the Department of Student Equity, Enrollment & Discipline (S.E.E.D.)

School leaders, when student misbehaviors rise to a level that warrants out-of-school suspension, please ensure the following STATE MANDATES:

• All suspensions must be entered into our PowerSchool database within 24 hours. The database will generate the OFFICIAL letter of suspension (schools should never create their own, unless asked to by SEED during technological issues).
• The suspension’s beginning and end date must be communicated to students and parents on the same day that the suspension is levied (i.e., in-person/by phone/ via paperwork). Students should never be told to remain home indefinitely or until an investigation is finalized, without being given a specific return date or suspension paperwork in hand. Paperwork can also be mailed to parents who are not able to meet in-person or cannot be contacted via phone.
• Students/parents should not be withdrawn or encouraged to withdraw during the course of the year or encouraged to transfer to new schools as the result of misbehavior.   
• When levying expulsions, parents should be informed immediately of their right to appeal the suspension. Parents should be informed by the suspending administrator that they have 5 days from the date of the suspension to appeal to SEED. DO NOT tell parents to wait to be contacted. They can use the attached DHA Scan bar to request hearings.

DHA Scan Bar

As always, the entire Department of Academic Operations and School Support is available to assist whenever needed.  If you have any additional questions, please directly contact Dr. JB Blocker at 901-416-6007 or email him directly at blockerj@scsk12.org.

Do you desire to gain your Instructional Leadership License and become a Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ principal or assistant principal? The MSCS Leadership Fast Track program provides aspiring school leaders the opportunity to earn a K-12 Educational Leadership Graduate Certificate in pursuit of a Beginning Instructional Leadership License (ILL-B) through Christian Brothers University. Cohort members are responsible for book and licensure fees, and the District will cover the tuition and practicum fees!

View Flyer & FAQ HERE: https://bit.ly/2023-24MSCSLeadershipFastTrack

The application deadline is May 15, 2023 11:59PM.

Visit https://bit.ly/2023MSCSLeadsFastTrackApp to access the application. 

Virtual Informational Sessions will be held May 9, 2023 4:30pm & May 11, 2023 5:00PM

Access meeting link HERE: https://bit.ly/2023MSCSLeadsFastTrackInfo

If you meet the eligibility requirements & can commit to 5 years of service as a MSCS school administrator, apply today to join the MSCS Leadership Fast Track 2023-24 cohort! For inquiries, reach out to Tari Harris, harristc1@scsk12.org.

Policy 5005 outlines the State and District policy regarding Advanced courses and removing the five additional points from an AP or IB student's grade if a student does not complete the exam on the required dates of testing. To remove the five additional points, teachers, AP/IB coordinators, principals, and the record's secretaries must complete the steps emailed to them this week. 

Please contact James Smith if you have questions.

Personal Finance Certification Training for teachers who are not currently authorized to teach Personal Finance begins on May 16th. Registration is due by May 15th. To register, please e-mail Jeannette Bennett at jeanette.n.bennett@stls.frb.org. This will likely be the last opportunity for this process until sometime in the middle of the fall semester, so please ensure that teachers that need this certification register and complete the training process.

See the flyer link below or e-mail Jeanette Bennett for further information.

flyer fo May -June 2023.pdf

We are excited about the opportunity to offer the Pre-AP World History and Geography final exam again this year to support our continued efforts to expand our support and implementation of Pre-AP throughout the district. Pertinent information regarding Pre-AP final exam administration is listed below. This information has already been sent directly to Pre-AP World History and Geography teachers.

When is the Pre-AP Final Exam Administration Window? 

The Pre-AP final exam window is May 8th - June 16th; however, all MSCS teachers must administer the Pre-AP final exam prior to the last day of school for the 2022-23 school year (May 26). Pre-AP teachers must log into Pre-AP Classroom to schedule the final exam prior to the administration date. Teachers should with school administrators to select an appropriate exam administration date. 

Who Should Proctor the Pre-AP Final Exam?

The Pre-AP teacher of record should proctor his/her own Pre-AP final exam. To do so, Pre-AP teachers must log into Pre-AP Classroom at myap.collegeboard.org and click the “Manage Live Test Session Link.” This tool provides Pre-AP course teachers with the real-time exam statuses of their students.

What is the Format of the Pre-AP Final Exam?

The Pre-AP final exam is a summative assessment that measures students’ mastery of the knowledge and skills articulated in the Pre-AP course framework. It is a digital test that students access within Pre-AP Classroom and complete online. Test details are as follows:

·       The Pre-AP Final Exam is 105 minutes in length. It may be delivered in two periods (one 60 minutes and one 45 minutes long) or one 105-minute period.

o   If administering the final exam in two sessions, they should be administered no more than one day (consecutive class meeting days) apart.

·       Part I (60 minutes): 50 multiple choice/technology-enhanced questions – scored automatically.

·       Part II (45 minutes): One multi-part open response question – scored locally by the Pre-AP World History and Geography Teacher of record; Pre-AP teachers will receive additional guidance on scoring and assigning a grade for this exam.

What Devices May Be Used to Take the Pre-AP Final Exam?

·       Recommended devices for students include a desktop/laptop or tablet.

o   Students are NOT permitted to take the exam on cell phones.

·       The recommended browsers include the latest versions of Chrome or Safari. However, the latest versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge are also supported.

·       Students will not need a lockdown browser installed in order to take the Pre-AP final exam.

What Accommodations are Available for Students with IEPs or 504 Plans?

• A student enrolled in Pre-AP courses may have accommodations and modifications required by his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP), or other educational support plans. Accommodations and modifications may call for printed materials and assessments for a student when these materials are provided to all students primarily through electronic or online resources.
• Your school’s Pre-AP Coordinator must order printed copies of the Pre-AP World History and Geography final exam for students that need a printed copy using the following link: 
  Pre-AP Print Accommodations Request.  Please contact Katrina Taylor if you need assistance with this step.

Can Students Be Exempted from Pre-AP Final Exams Based on the District Policy?

No. The Administrative Rules and Regulations in Policy 5015 state that the exemption from final semester exams only applies to teacher-made semester exams. The Pre-AP final exam is created by the College Board. It is not a semester exam, but schools have the option to administer the Pre-AP final exam during the timeframe allotted for second semester exams if desired.

Is there a final exam for other Pre-AP courses?

At this time, all Pre-AP World History and Geography teachers are expected to administer the Pre-AP World History and Geography final exam this school year. No other Pre-AP final exam is required to be administered for 2022-23.

If you have questions about Pre-AP final exam administration or have issues during test administration, please contact Dr. Katrina Taylor via email or at (901) 416-7992.

Principals,

Please ask your financial secretaries or appropriate designees to double-check to ensure that all Optional Program and Advanced Placement program purchases have been delivered. All packing slips, receipts, and/or invoices should be sent to Kristi Watson for reconciliation no later than June 1, 2023. Thank you for your assistance.    

Principals, We look forward to you joining us May 9, 2023 8:00am for Principals' Meeting. Please wear green for Mental Health Awareness Month.

Click here to access meeting agenda.

Please note:

• K-8 Schools will bring an additional representative to the 9:45 a.m. Math Textbook Overview session to attend either the K-5 or 6-8 breakout session.
• All schools will send teacher representatives to attend the 1:30 p.m. Math Textbook Overview sessions, as applicable.

Professional Learning & Support is committed to providing professional learning for school leaders that draws on their classroom experience, leverages school and district resources, and provides practical strategies to increase academic achievement at all grade levels. As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we need your feedback to ensure relevant and high-quality professional learning opportunities are available for school leaders.

Please complete the brief survey below by Friday, May 12, 2023.

Survey Link: https://forms.office.com/r/1qkMZAvHWg
 

We appreciate your honest feedback to help improve the learning experience of all school leaders!

 Attention High School Leaders: Limited slots for Fall 2023 Special Projects are available through Project Graduation for all high schools. Special projects are designed to provide prescriptive support by customizing courses and class days/times to the specific needs of your school. Project Graduation will not offer Special Projects in the Spring 2024; however, we will operate three to four super sites to serve all MSCS high school students.  

CLICK HERE for a detailed planning guide.  

Attention High School Leaders: Limited slots for Fall 2023 Special Projects are available through Project Graduation for all high schools. Special projects are designed to provide prescriptive support by customizing courses and class days/times to the specific needs of your school. Project Graduation will not offer Special Projects in the Spring 2024; however, we will operate three to four super sites to serve all MSCS high school students.  

CLICK HERE for a detailed planning guide.    

The Quarter 4 SEA Surveys for Elementary School Principals, K-2 teachers, and SEAs will be live from May 8 to May 22. Surveys will be sent directly to SEAs and teachers from SurveyMonkey. Here is the link to the Principal Q4 survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SEAPrincipalsQ4

The purpose of the quarterly SEA survey is understand how SEAs are being utilized within the schools and track changes throughout the school year.

The Quarter 4 Proximity Learning Surveys for select principals, Proximity Learning teachers, and ESPs will be live from May 8 to May 22. Surveys will be sent directly to Proximity Learning teachers and ESPs from SurveyMonkey. Principals will receive an email from Mr. Bill White with a link to the survey.

The purpose of the quarterly Proximity Learning survey is allow us to learn about and refine the program.