Greatness Grows Here.

Office of Enrollment and Attendance 

Attendance Procedures and Reminders

• Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow! September is Attendance Awareness Month! Every day in school, a student builds a strong foundation for their future. It isn't just about showing up; it's about consistency, building good habits, and becoming part of our school community. When students are here, they are gaining the skills they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. Let's work together to make everyday count.

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition

• Our first 20-day school attendance period ended on August 29. Please ensure that all necessary student supports have been documented within the Show Up for Greatness Application App. All administrative staff should have access to the platform link, as this remains a mandatory requirement.
• For any questions, please email us at studentservices@scsk12.org.
• By consistently entering attendance data for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers every 20 days, we can proactively monitor attendance trends and identify where additional support may be needed.
• Attendance progress will also be reflected in student reports and report cards, ensuring transparent communication with parents and guardians.

Attendance Liaisons: A New Model for Student Success 

• As the new school year begins, we welcome back our Attendance Liaisons. Their work is essential for reducing chronic absenteeism and truancy across the district.
• Now managed by the Office of Enrollment & Attendance, Attendance Liaisons have transitioned to a new district-wide model, with each liaison assigned to a specific region to provide more focused support.
• Their efforts will be closely aligned with truancy prevention, RTI-B frameworks, and counseling services. This integrated approach is designed to effectively identify and support students, ensuring they have the opportunity to succeed.

Student Absence Form Available via PowerSchool Parent Portal

• Please be advised that the Student Absence Form is available for all parents through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This online form allows parents to easily notify the school of their child’s absence directly from their mobile devices or computers. Parents can also track the status of their absence submission by returning to the portal.

Verifying Parent/Guardian Contact Information 

• Staff must verify parent/guardian contact information during student check-ins/check-outs. This is critical to student safety and security and ensures our records are always up-to-date in case of an emergency or unexpected event.
• Accurate attendance entry in PowerSchool is essential for reducing the district’s chronic absenteeism rate.  In accordance with Policy #6014, teachers must begin recording attendance on the first day of school (August 4, 2025) using PowerTeacher Pro.

• Effective Immediately: The following attendance codes are the only codes teachers should use:
  • U0 – Unexcused Absence
  • FT – Field Trip
• T – Tardy (Middle and High School only)

• Teachers should no longer use the AT – Absent by Teacher code.
• Codes no longer used:

AT – Absent by Teacher

E0 – Excused Absence

E7 – Excused Absence due to Quarantine of Self Isolation

U6 – Unexcused Absence due to Quarantine of Self Isolation

U99 – Other

REM – Remand to Alt Setting

CT – Contract

T – Tardy (no longer used in Elementary Schools)

• Codes renamed:

Old                                                                       New

EPA – Excused Partial Absence                        LEE – Left Early Excused

UPA – Unexcused Partial Absence                   LEU – Left Early Unexcused

• Please ensure your Attendance Liaison and/or Clerical Assistant (General Office Secretary) is familiar with these changes. This information was reviewed during summer training and the July in-service sessions.

New District Attendance Initiative: Show Up for Greatness!

• Our new attendance initiative is designed to support a regional service delivery model and strengthen tiered interventions:

Tiered Intervention Model:

• Tier 1: Show Up for Greatness
• Tier 2: Everyday Counts– NEW partnership with the Assisi Foundation and Attendance Works
• Tier 3: Be Present. Be Great.
• We are also improving alignment between Attendance & Truancy Liaisons and RTI-B Specialists to maximize effectiveness in reducing chronic absenteeism and truancy.

Truancy Outreach: Greatness at Your Door 2.0

• As we address truancy, our focus will be on students who have not re-enrolled and are marked as no-shows.  These students must be identified early for outreach.

Action Required:

• Export your no-show list from PowerSchool
• Personally contact each family to determine the reason for non-enrollment and offer necessary support
• Prepare for home outreach visits through the Greatness at Your Door 2.0 campaign

Grade Placement: Overage or Unenrolled Students (OAG)

• Students returning to MSCS after an extended absence or who are new to the district but have never been enrolled must undergo grade placement assessment.

Process:

1. Complete the OAG Placement Form: https://forms.office.com/r/UsRH8usW5C
2. If the student is already in PowerSchool:
   • Transfer to Registration School
   • Enroll in age-appropriate grade
   • Add entry comment: “Pending OAG Assessment”
   • Provide parent with PowerSchool credentials
   • Inform parent a placement team member will contact them via email
3. If the student is new to MSCS and has proof of residence:
   • Enroll in Registration School
   • Follow the same steps above

Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

• First impressions matter. Please ensure staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and equipped to assist with enrollment needs. Most issues can be resolved at the school level. Families should not be turned away.
• District-level support is available. The Enrollment & Attendance Office will assist with complex cases involving school assignments, truancy clearance, special education inquiries, and other matters.

Kindergarten Age Requirement:

• Children must be five years old on or before August 15 of the current school year to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
• Five-year-old kindergarteners who have not been previously enrolled cannot be enrolled after the first 30 days of the school year.
• Previously enrolled kindergarteners may be accepted at any time.

Upcoming Attendance Initiatives

• Sept. 10: Attendance Liaison Monthly Meeting (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)
• Sept. 9: Intro to Attendance Training (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) - Location: TTC
• Sept. 11: Attendance Practices and Processes (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) - Location: TTC Lauderdale Lab
• Coming Soon: Greatness at Your Door 2.0 (Time and Location TBD)