If you have not already, please submit your Literacy Commitment Point of Contact via the Leadership Launchpad.

Principals can access the app to add their School-Based Contacts using the following link: https://org08b2405b.crm.dynamics.com/main.aspx?appid=af0c034f-d3af-ee11-a569-00224805ce7e&pagetype=entitylist&etn=account&viewid=cf497b75-d5af-ee11-a569-00224805c274&viewType=1039

The user guide can be found here: https://scsk12.sharepoint.com/:u:/r/sites/MSCSBusinessSystemsSolutions/SitePages/School-Based-Contacts.aspx?csf=1&web=1&share=EcR3bHZk2mZGm6PswsT5nZYBD_HL6q1OJG5bTABGWzlE9w&e=Mt39IJ

Continue to reach out to Dr. Amy Maples (maplesa@scsk12.org) with any questions.

All textbook coordinators are required to complete the Textbook Automation Inventory Training for ClassGather (Course #49116). This training will ensure consistency and accuracy in managing textbook inventory across all schools.

Training Outcomes (Know, Understand, Do):

· Know: How to access and navigate the ClassGather system, scan and record textbooks, receive shipments, assign books, and maintain accurate records.

· Understand: The importance of accurate inventory for accountability, equitable distribution, compliance, and audit-readiness.

· Do: Perform essential ClassGather tasks, including logging in, receiving shipments, scanning and assigning textbooks, reconciling counts, and generating reports.

Training Dates:

· Tuesday, October 7, 2025

· Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Each session is designed to equip coordinators with the skills to align inventory processes and ensure all materials are accounted for. Attendance is mandatory.

For questions, please contact: Dr. Rahmod Traylor at traylorr@scsk12.org, Tiara Oliver at OLIVERT4@scsk12.org or Dr. Amy Maples at MAPLESA@scsk12.org.

Please find the MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for the week of September 29.

Middle School Principals and Mathematics Instructors are requested to review the following voiceover from the Onyx team:  Onyx for Middle School Mathematics.  This research has been approved by Dr. Richmond to support the integration of culturally relevant practices within mathematics instruction.  Onyx content was slated to present at August LDW, but the virtual presentation did not occur due to tech issues on the vendor side.   

Principals will submit the names/emails of two mathematics teachers to participate in the following form:

https://forms.office.com/r/4v4cuuqq7h, by Wednesday, October 8.

Feel free to reach out to Dr. Maples (maplesa@scsk12.org) or Antronette Brown, Math Manager (brownac@scsk12.org) with any questions.

ILP Monitoring Forms for English Learners and Transitional 1 & 2 students were originally released on September 3. Due to a syncing glitch, all original forms were closed and archived. New ILP Monitoring Forms were then released on September 15 and must be completed by September 30 in ELLevation. Monitoring Forms are integral to our student support systems and required by Federal and State guidelines. Please make every effort to help your teachers complete these monitoring forms by the due date. 

All high schools are encouraged to hold quarterly ESL data meetings in support of the ML Academic Success Assurance Protocol (ML ASAP). Recommended participants include the ESL Teacher(s), PLC Coach and/or Instructional Facilitator, Content Area Leads. Counselors and Administrators are encouraged to participate as well. The Q1 ESL Data Meeting Template can be found here. For questions, reach out to Michael Cortez, cortezl@scsk12.org, or Melissa Basel, delahuntym@scsk12.org.   

In-Person PDs are offered at the Office of Multilingual Learners (OML) unless otherwise indicated - 3030 Jackson Ave., Memphis, TN 38122  

September 30 – ESL  101 Work Session for New/Novice ESL Teachers, "Collaborative Planning," In-Person, 4-5:30 PM  

October 1 – Flashlight 360, In-Person, 3-4:30 PM 

October 1 – Footsteps 2 Brilliance, [Virtual], 4-5 PM  

October 2 – ELD/ELA Standards Crosswalk Training, [Virtual], 3:30-4:30 PM 

October 7 – Lexia English for New Users, [Virtual], 3:30-5 PM 

October 8 – October ESL Monthly Meeting for all ESL Teachers, Virtual on Teams, 8:15 AM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM 

October 9 – Learning A-Z: Raz-Plus Orientation, [Virtual] 4-5 PM 

November 13-15 – TNTESOL Conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Renasant Convention Center, Memphis  

October 1, 2025, is the deadline to finalize the student count for the TDOE. The district’s EL count will not include students who are not identified and properly coded in EIS by Oct. 1. Please work with your ESL teachers to ensure students are identified and screened by this date.  

SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS: ASSISTANCE WITH PROGRAM FEES

If you have students experiencing homelessness who are being asked to pay fees to participate in school programs, please know that our office can assist with covering those costs. This also applies to cap and gown fees for high school graduation.

To request payment, please follow-up with the school’s Financial Secretary to coordinate submission of a completed Payment Request Form along with a detailed description of the fees.

For additional information or assistance, please contact Karen Ball-Johnson at ballkf@scsk12.org or call 901-416-7393.

Homeless Student Referral Information

To ensure timely support, all McKinney-Vento referral forms have been uploaded to the Special Populations SharePoint. In order for services to be initiated, a completed referral must be submitted to our office. Once received, a team member will contact the parent or caretaker within 48–72 hours. Please use the SharePoint link below to access the referral forms.  

MSCS Displaced Referral Forms.pdf

Per Policy #6065, the Office of Student Leadership will offer training for middle and high schools to beginning SGA & Student Council advisors. 

Participants will receive a step-by-step implementation plan to help schools establish a successful SGA and/or Student Council. A calendar of upcoming events (local and statewide) will be provided, in addition to information on fundraising, team-building, and community service projects.

Date:            Tuesday, October 7, 2025 *New Date*

Time:            3:15 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Location:      Central High School (Library), 306 South Bellevue

PLZ Course: 48754

PURPOSE:   To provide guidelines for the operation of student councils in each of the district’s middle and high schools.

Please be sure to review Student Government (Policy 6065).

This policy applies to middle schools and high schools. ​

Each school shall establish an elected student council. The council shall be governed by its own constitution, which shall be approved by the school principal. Defining the council’s jurisdiction shall be a joint and cooperative effort of the council, students, and the student government constitution.

Sign-Up Link: https://forms.office.com/r/kx9gwvLFxV

SAVE THE DATES- Tennessee Association of Student Councils Fall Workshops:  

https://tascofficial.org/

Middle Schools THEME: Lassoing Leadership (Hosted by Kate Bond Middle School)

Date & Time: Friday, November 21, 2025 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM 

Location: Bellevue Baptist Church Cordova, TN

MS Registration Link: https://omella.com/vj6ie

High Schools THEME: Lasso Your Leadership In The Wild Wild West 

Date & Time: Monday, November 3, 2025 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 

Location: Ripley High School Ripley, TN

HS Registration Link: https://omella.com/7o8ia

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Billy J. Walker, II <Walkerbj@scsk12.org>.

Student Group Filters have been updated. These can be found in every report with Group Type and Group filters (Attendance, Enrollment, Discipline, Assessment, Grades, Tutoring, High School Progress, District 360, RTI, and Summer Learning Academy).

• Overage for Grade is now split into a filter for students' overage because of their age, overage because of a previous retention, and overage for any reason.
• Discipline Tier no longer includes truancy incidents in how it’s defined.
• Attendance Tier is a new filter based on the number of District absences a student has.
   

Report Updates:

• The Show Up for Greatness report is being updated with new business rules. A student’s category is based on their cumulative attendance rate for the year.
  • Historical data from last year is available. Attendance categories in the historical data will adhere to the attendance rate cuts from that year. New data will populate the day after each 20-day period ends.
  • Everyone with MSCS Compass access, including School Administrators, can see this report. See the user guide for more information.
     

• The Attendance Reconciliation Report has been updated to focus primarily on PC (Present by Calculation) and AC (Absent by Calculation) codes. With this report, school staff can see which students are still showing these codes to facilitate cleaning up in PowerSchool. See the user guide for more information.
   

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.
 

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Sign up for Virtual Office Hours!

• This week (9/30 and 10/2), we are covering the Student Attendance: Show Up for Greatness and Attendance Reconciliation Reports.
   
• For more information on Virtual Office Hours, check out this flyer! Sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 PM on Microsoft Teams. 
   

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New to Power BI? Sign Up for a Power BI New User Training session. Look for Course Code 34810 in PLZ to sign up. 

Refresher Sessions are available for anyone who attended the New User Training previously and wants more advanced skills. Look for Course Code 34812 in PLZ to sign up.

Sessions are now available to sign up in PLZ!

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Monthly Newsletter: 

Check your inbox! On the first Wednesday of every month, the DAIM team sends out a monthly newsletter to all Power BI users. In it, you will find more information on upcoming trainings, new releases, and how-to guides. 

To see this month’s edition (and all archived editions), visit our support page.

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Check out our page of new/updated features and releases on our DAIM Support Page!

You can reach out to us at DAIMSUPPORT@scsk12.org  if you need support.   

Office of Enrollment and Attendance

Attendance Procedures and Reminders

Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow: A Plan for Boosting Attendance

As we continue to celebrate September Attendance Awareness Month, we know increasing regular student attendance is a team effort. We all play a part in creating a welcoming environment. While we consistently face attendance challenges, we've noticed a significant drop on Mondays and Fridays. A strong start and finish to the week are crucial for keeping students engaged and on track. We encourage you to get creative and implement positive incentives to motivate your students.

Engage and Energize Students

• Start and End Strong: Make Mondays and Fridays especially engaging. Kick off Monday with a fun, collaborative activity or a short class meeting to set a positive tone. On Fridays, wrap up the week with a review game, a fun project, or a "show and tell" of student work.
• Students are more likely to attend when they feel a strong connection to the adults and their peers. Greet students at the door, check in with those who have been absent, and foster a classroom environment where every student feels seen and valued.
• Highlight the "Why": Remind students of how important attendance is for their academic success and social development. When they understand how each day builds on the last, they may feel more motivated to attend.

Offer Incentives

Sometimes, a little extra motivation goes a long way. Consider these ideas to reward students for consistent attendance:

• Offer incentives that directly benefit students' grades, such as extra credit or bonus points on their lowest test or assignment grade.
• A single homework pass is a low-cost, high-reward incentive that students love.
• Reward classes or individual students with a jeans day or the opportunity to listen to music while they work.
• Offer free snacks, a pizza party, or a small prize from a prize box for classes with the best attendance.

Communicate and Collaborate 

• A quick call or email home on Monday to a student who was absent on Friday shows you care and helps parents stay on top of attendance issues.
• Coordinate with other teachers in your grade level or department to offer cross-curricular incentives. For example, a student with perfect attendance in all classes for a week could earn a special reward.
• We can all learn from each other. If you find a strategy that works well for you, please share it with the rest of the staff!

Let's work together to create a culture where being at school every day is the norm.

First 20 Days Recognitions: Show Up for Greatness

• We are excited to celebrate students who have shown exceptional attendance improvement during the first 20 days of school. Our Enrollment and Attendance team has been analyzing data from last year and is thrilled to recognize the hard work of students in various schools and regions.
• Our team will be visiting these schools to personally congratulate these students and encourage them to continue their path toward academic greatness.
• Please be on the lookout for more information regarding these recognition visits. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Greatness at Your Door 2.0

• We're launching the second phase of Greatness at Your Door 2.0, our initiative to improve student attendance. This campaign involves door-to-door visits to families of students who have not been attending school.
• The first outreach event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, at 9 a.m., targeting the Southwest region. The second event will take place on Thursday, October 9, focusing on the Northwest region.
• Attendance is mandatory for all Truancy and Attendance Liaisons on both dates. Please arrive at the Board of Education (BOE) at 8:30 a.m. for a briefing before we begin. Your full participation is vital to this initiative's success.

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition

• Our second 20-day school attendance period ends September 29, 2025. Please ensure that all necessary student supports are 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.
• Gold : 96% or higher
• Silver : 91% to 95%
• Bronze : 90% or less
• Attendance progress will also be reflected in student reports and report cards, ensuring transparent communication with parents and guardians.

Approval Required for IEP/504 Transfer Rescissions

• For all students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan whose transfer is recommended for rescission, the withdrawal process requires prior approval from the Office of General Counsel. This measure ensures compliance with all relevant special education laws and regulations before the student can be officially withdrawn.

Attendance Reconciliation Model for Improving Student Attendance

• This initiative establishes a consistent framework for monitoring and supporting student attendance, aligning with MSCS district policies to improve overall attendance rates.

Key Responsibilities

Teachers

• Daily Attendance Recording: Teachers are required to accurately record student attendance in PowerSchool SIS within the first ten minutes of each class or school day.

Attendance Clerks/Clerical Assistants/GOS

• Daily Verification: Verify teacher attendance submissions and print, review, and file the daily Absentee Report.
• Check-Ins/Outs Management: Monitor and record all student check-ins and check-outs in PowerSchool SIS.
• Parent Note Processing: Collect, enter into PowerSchool SIS, and file all handwritten parent notes.
• Record attendance for absent teachers and placeholders.

Attendance Liaisons

• Process all electronic parent notes submitted via the Student Absence Form.
• Confirm that all attendance codes (e.g., AC, PC) are updated and used correctly.
• Assist schools with the organization and filing of hard-copy documents, including parent notes, absentee reports, and check-in/out sheets.
• Within PowerSchool SIS, verify the correct use of withdrawal codes and comments, monitor "Teachers Missing Attendance" reports, and ensure the proper use of attendance codes.
• Monitor chronic absenteeism and truancy, collaborating with Family Engagement Specialists, Counselors, Administrators, Student Experiences and others to identify and address family-related barriers to attendance.
• Assist with the implementation of the Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP).
• Engage parents in the "Show Up for Greatness" attendance initiative.
• Participate in CompStat report-outs to provide regular updates on attendance data and efforts.

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.

Keep your Contact Information Updated

• To ensure the safety of all students, staff will verify parent or guardian contact information at every check-in and check-out for all students. This is a critical step in keeping our emergency contacts accurate and up to date.

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: Parent Student Support Plan

As we intensify our focus on reducing truancy, schools must prioritize identifying students who are chronically absent, defined as five or more unexcused absences.  Early outreach and intervention are essential to re-engage students before absenteeism escalates.  A Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP) is required for every student who accumulates five absences whether excused or unexcused.  The PSSP serves as a proactive tool to address barriers, strengthen family engagement, and support consistent attendance. 

• 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.
• Monitor your withdrawal list from PowerSchool

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, Eligible Circumstance transfers and other matters.

Kindergarten Age Requirement:

• Children must be 5 years old on or before August 15 of the current school year to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
• Effective September 13, 2025, 5-year-old kindergartners who have not been previously enrolled can no longer be enrolled for the current school year. (Exceptions will be made for students who are experiencing homelessness or displacement.)
• Previously enrolled kindergartners may be accepted at any time.

September Events

• September 24: 1st 20-days student recognitions
• September 30: Greatness at Your Door 2.0 (Southwest Region)

October Events

• October 7: Attendance Liaison Monthly Meeting (All Regions) | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• October 9: Greatness at Your Door 2.0 (Northwest Region)
• October 9: Attendance Practices and Processes Training | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: TTC
• October 23: Be Present. Be Great – Parent Meeting (Memphis Sports & Events Center)

The window for completing Growth & Achievement selections for the 2025–26 school year is open through October 3, 2025.

Guidance documents for both Educators and Evaluators are available in PLZ under the Resources tab. These materials provide step-by-step support for completing Growth & Achievement selections.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to the Employee Performance and Support Office at 901.416.2475 or eps@scsk12.org.

Fine Arts, Physical Education (2nd and 5th grades), Pre-K, and World Language (French and Spanish) educators will submit TEAM Student Growth Portfolios for SY2025-26. Please complete the TEAM Student Growth Portfolio Teacher Information form by Friday, September 26.  

Questions or concerns? Send an email to eps@scsk12.org.

Click the link below to view important information regarding SY25-26 Evaluation Plans and Tracks.

SY25-26 Evaluation Plans and Tracks

Questions or concerns? Email eps@scsk12.org.

Employee Performance and Support in Partnership with the Peer Assistance and Review team is excited to announce the opening of registration for the TEM TEACHer Training Series in PLZ.  Teachers may register using course #48814.

This series is targeted for new teachers or educators needing a refresher on the TEACH Indicatiors.  It is intended to support teachers with identifying teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3–5 of the TEACH indicators.

Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.  

Reminder: All Returning Observer participants must complete their TEM coursework and calibration by September 30.

Questions? Please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.  

The Time Is Now!  The Goal Setting season is here and Non-Instructional evaluations are available in PLZ! All Non-Instructional employees must have a Goal Setting Conference as the first step of the performance appraisal process.  As a reminder, the Goal Setting Conference should be completed within 30 days of the NIE employee’s hire/contract start date.​ 

Click HERE  for more NIE Goal Setting Conference details. 

The Goal Setting process is simple: 

1) Select your evaluator. 

2) Enter your goals. 

3) Meet with your supervisor for the Goal Setting Conference. 

4) Finalize AND sign off on the form in PLZ.

ALL NIE Goal Setting Conferences should be 100% complete by October 24 for all NIE personnel.   

For your reference, please see the step guides below. 

• NIE Evaluator Step Guide
• NIE Employee Step Guide
• NIE Goal Setting Conference Tutorial

Please reach out to your EPS advisor if you have additional questions or email EPS@scsk12.org.  

The Fall Student Perception Site Coordinator Training will be held via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:

• Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 10 a.m.
• Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.

Participants will learn the roles of coordinators, teachers, and students in the survey process and develop a school survey administration plan.

For questions, please contact EPS at eps@scsk12.org or reach out to Chiquita Allen-Bradley at allenbradleyc@scsk12.org. 

November 2025 Flex Days
The November Flex Days are scheduled for November 24-26, 2025. These days are earned time off for educators who have completed 18 hours of designated professional learning outside of their regular contracted workday by November 3, 2025. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

To qualify for the November Flex Days, educators must: 

Complete 18 hours of professional learning outside the regular workday 

Ensure all hours are reflected on their PLZ transcript 

Complete district-approved Canvas courses listed on the 2025-2026 PL Hours Flyer.pdf 

Important Dates: 

November 3 – 5: Grading window

November 6 – 7: Teacher will retrieve professional learning transcript in PLZ and submit to school leader or principal designee.

November 10-13: School leaders review transcripts

November 14: Report ineligible staff 

November 17: Notification sent to ineligible teachers

November 18-19: Teachers may submit evidence for review 

Additional Notes:
 
Afterschool PD and District Learning Days do not count toward Flex Day credit. 

Teachers hired or returning from leave after September 9, 2025, may be exempt from some course requirements. 

QR codes will be provided to schools for attendance tracking during Flex Days. 

For questions or support, please contact Performance and Leadership Development at performanceandleadership@scsk12.org.

Thank you for your continued commitment to professional learning! 

Thank you for your active engagement during September Leadership Development Week. Your contributions helped make it a meaningful and impactful experience. 

As a follow-up, please find the shared resource folder linked below for your continued reference and support: September LDW Resources

If you would like to access previous LDW resources, please use this link: 2025-2026 LDW Resources

Save the Date for October Leadership Development Week: October 27-30.

Contact Us: performanceandleadership@scsk12.org 

Principals, please inform all instructional leadership team members who were unable to attend the initial session that a make-up opportunity will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 4 PM to 5 PM in the Multipurpose Room at the Teaching & Learning Academy (2485 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112). Flyer: ILT Make-up Session Flyer Template 9.30.2025v141.pdf

The link below will allow Regional Superintendents, Instructional Leadership Coaches, Principals, Asst. Principals, Vice Principals, and Deans of Students the ability to track their school's progress in the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  

• Evaluation KPI Dashboard

If you have questions about the Evaluation KPI Dashboard, reach out to EPS at eps@scsk12.org.

ILT Content Leads Save the Dates for Future 2025-26 ILT Support Sessions. All ILT Content Leads must attend the monthly ILT Support Sessions outlined in the flyer to be eligible to receive the semester stipend. 2025 26 ILT Support Session Dates w PLZ Codes 9.15.2025.pdf

The Introduction to the Student Perception Survey training will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 4 p.m. via Microsoft Teams.

Participants will gain insight into the role of student surveys in educator evaluations, the administration process, and the Panorama platform.

For questions, please contact the Employee Performance and Support Office at 901.416.2475 or eps@scsk12.org, or reach out to Chiquita Allen-Bradley at allenbradleyc@scsk12.org

A file with 2024-2025 TCAP scores and unofficial 2025-2026 Achievement AMOs can be found on SharePoint here. These AMOs are unofficial because the state does not calculate AMOs for individual grades and subjects. Federal accountability AMOs are based on ELA and math results combined across all grade levels, and we do not have official 2025-2026 AMOs yet. However, we publish these unofficial AMOs to help schools with goal setting for individual grades and subjects. 

The Performance Matters Formative Assessment window begins Monday, September 29, and ends Friday, October 10. The middle and high school tests will be given online and will become available on Monday. The elementary tests will be taken on paper, and Building Testing Coordinators have access to these tests through the SharePoint Assessment restricted folder. A practice test named “MSCS Benchmark Sample Test” is available in Performance Matters and can be used by school administrators, teachers, and students to become more familiar with the testing process. 

The fall ACT testing window for 12th graders opens September 30. There are multiple ACT testing dates available in October;  November 7 is the final date for this year’s ACT testing window. All ACT testing is online, and schools may choose the date or dates within the window that they want to test. Students in grades 8, 9, and 10 will take the PreACT online; the PreACT window is October 1-31. Schools may choose the date or dates they will administer the PreACT within the designated window.

Although on weekend testing dates students may opt out of the science portion of the ACT, the state’s school day ACT tests will still include science. Participation in this school day testing opportunity will be especially important this year. The TDOE Accountability Department has indicated that only ACT tests including science will count toward ACT accountability measures such a participation rate and percent of students scoring 21 or above. However, ACT tests without science will still meet the graduation requirement. 

Effective September 22, 2025, approval from your Regional Superintendent is required when enrolling students in a Grade Results Credit Accrual course that is also a tested subject (TCAP or EOC). More detailed information can be found in the flyer linked HERE. Questions? Contact Rochelle Griffin at griffinrj@scsk12.org.

Hosted by the Exceptional Children Department & Family and Community Engagement Department

This October, Memphis-Shelby County Schools is proud to host a series of educational and family-centered sessions designed to provide awareness, strategies, and resources for supporting children on the autism spectrum. These sessions are tailored for families, school staff, and administrators to strengthen understanding and collaboration in both home and school environments.

Session 1: Autism Awareness for School Staff

Date: Monday, October 6
Time: 10:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Overview:
This professional learning session will focus on autism awareness and provide school staff with strategies to support students with autism in the academic environment. The training will highlight common characteristics of autism, classroom strategies, and practical tools for fostering inclusion. Exceptional Children staff will be available to answer questions and offer additional supports.

Audience: School staff and administrators

Morning session link: Join Here

Afternoon session link: Join Here

Session 2: Parent & Caregiver Behavior Supports

Date: Tuesday, October 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Overview:
This monthly session is designed for parents and caregivers of children with exceptionalities. The focus will be on behavior supports that families can use at home to promote positive outcomes for their children. Participants will receive practical strategies, have the opportunity to ask questions, and connect with Exceptional Children specialists.

Registration: Families interested in attending can register here. After registering, a meeting link will be provided.

Audience: Parents and caregivers

Session 3: MSCS Family Forum – Autism Awareness & Support

Date: Wednesday, October 8
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Overview:
This Family Forum session will highlight autism awareness and available supports within Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The Exceptional Children team will provide guidance and resources, while special guests Kia (Kia Shine) and Queen Coleman will share their journey as parents of a child with autism. This session is designed to inspire, inform, and strengthen family-school partnerships.

Audience: Families, caregivers, community members, and educators

Session link: Join Here