Greatness Grows Here.

Office of Enrollment and Attendance 

Attendance Procedures and Reminders

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition

• Please note that our third 20-day school attendance period ended on November 3, 2025. It is a mandatory requirement that all necessary student supports be fully documented within the Show Up for Greatness Application. Please ensure this is completed by the deadline.
• 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.

Be Present. Be Great. -Parent Meeting

• We are pleased to announce the launch of the "Be Present. Be Great." (Parent Attendance & Truancy) Initiative, a vital meeting designed to enhance student support and academic success through improved attendance.
• This initiative is focused on developing individualized Parent/Student Attendance Support Plans and connecting families with essential community-based resources to effectively address barriers to consistent attendance.

Mandatory First Meeting Details:

• Date & Time: Saturday, November 15, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Location: The TLA, located at 2485 Union Ave
• Focus: This mandatory session is for schools targeting students with ten or more unexcused absences.
• Participation in this session is by invitation only for parents whose child meets the established attendance criteria.

Spotlight on Success: Celebrating Our Students and Schools in December! 

• We are excited to recognize and celebrate throughout the month of December the hard work and positive growth within our student body.
• We are seeking nominations for students who have demonstrated outstanding attendance, shown significant improvement in their attendance, or positive behavior and leadership within the school community.
• If you know a student who deserves a spotlight, please reach out directly to our office. We would like to honor the selected student(s) with a special recognition and a meaningful gift to celebrate their achievement!
• We will also be tracking overall school attendance and selecting schools to recognize for their collective effort and improvement during December.

Approval Required for IEP/504 Transfer Rescissions

• For students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan whose transfer is recommended for rescission, our department confers with General Counsel to ensure compliance with all relevant special education laws and regulations.

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 10 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
• 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.)

Upcoming Dates and Meetings

Attendance Liaison Regional Data Review

• Date & Time: November 6, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Location: BOE Auditorium

Attendance Practices and Processes Training

• Date & Time: November 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m
• Location: TTC Lauderdale Room