Submit an application for your school for the TAA Arts Rich Schools Awards! 

Recognition & Trophies/Plaques, Prize Money, Bravo Banquet, Panels/Forums, and more – all to elevate the work you and your teachers do every day!  Use the tips included on the flyer to submit an application for your school!

TAA Arts Enriched School Awards Application

Memphis-Shelby County Schools will conduct the districtwide textbook adoption process for:

• Career & Technical Education (CTE)
  • Information Technology
  • Advanced Manufacturing
• Health, Physical Education & Lifetime Wellness (HPELW)

Instructional materials selected through this adoption will guide teaching and learning for the next eight (8) years. Due to the significance of this work, the adoption process must be carried out with integrity, fidelity, and alignment to state and district policy.

We are seeking qualified teachers in the following areas to serve on the Textbook Selection Committees:

• CTE (Information Technology & Advanced Manufacturing)
• Lifetime Wellness / HPELW

Committee Member Requirements

• Hold a valid Tennessee teaching license in the content area being reviewed
• Be currently teaching the subject area (CTE or Lifetime Wellness)
• Have at least three (3) years of successful teaching experience
• Demonstrate knowledge of Tennessee Academic Standards and course frameworks
• Be willing to review materials using state- and district-approved rubrics, participate in meetings, and uphold confidentiality, objectivity, and ethical standards throughout the adoption process

How to Apply

Interested educators should complete the appropriate interest form below no later than January 9, 2026:

CTE Committee Interest Form: https://forms.office.com/r/gaD4xBRAuH?origin=lprLink 

HPELW Committee Interest Form: https://forms.office.com/r/9dtAKWxbvC?origin=lprLink

Selected participants will be contacted after the application window closes.

Questions

If you have questions regarding the textbook adoption process, please contact:

• Dr. Rahmod Traylor (traylorr@scsk12.org) Manager, Textbook & Educational Support Services
• Tiara Oliver (olivert4@scsk12.org) Textbook Advisor

Thank you for your commitment to instructional excellence and for supporting high-quality curriculum selection for our students.

Greatness Grows Here.

Office of Enrollment-Attendance-Truancy 

End-of-Semester Attendance Procedures and Reminders

• As we prepare to close out the first semester, thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to maintaining strong enrollment and attendance practices across your school communities. Attendance continues to drive academic achievement and funding, and your efforts remain vital. Please monitor chronic absenteeism concerns, maintain consistent parent communication, and ensure timely reconciliation of daily attendance in PowerSchool.
• Accurate enrollment and attendance reporting is essential during this transition period. For accuracy of semester grading and state reporting, students should not be withdrawn prior to January 5, 2026.

Show Up for Greatness: Attendance Monitoring and Recognition 

• Please note that our fourth 20-day school attendance period ended on December 10, 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.
• Teachers must continue to record daily attendance accurately through the last day of the semester (Friday, December 19, 2025).
• Generate the Attendance Today report to identify and resolve any data entry discrepancies.
• Generate the MSCS Absent by Minutes Present report to further identify and resolve any data entry discrepancies.
• Print and retain the Absentee report for official record-keeping purposes.
• Retain the student check-in log for official record-keeping purposes.
• Retain the student check-out log for official record-keeping purposes.

Recommendations for Record Storage

• When preparing to store all 2025–2026 attendance records, it is recommended to separate and clearly label the student check-in log from the student check-out log.
• Retain all substitute teacher rosters.
• Print the Smart Find Report to verify substitute rosters.

December Student Recognition

• We are celebrating student hard work and positive growth throughout December.
• We are seeking nominations for students showing outstanding/improved attendance and positive behavior/leadership.
• Please contact our office to nominate a deserving student for a special recognition and gift.
• We will also track and recognize schools for overall attendance effort and improvement.

Approval Required for IEP/504 General Choice 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.

General Choice Transfer Rescission Process & Deadline

• General Choice rescind notifications will be issued to parents of students ineligible to return for the 2025–26 school year.
• Policy #6002 states that General Choice transfers are approved through the student's exit grade level but may be revoked if the student fails to meet expectations in attendance, behavior, and/or academic performance.
• To request a transfer revocation, Principals must:
• Ensure all attendance and grade records in PowerSchool are accurate and up to date before submission. Requests will be validated in PowerSchool and approved by our office. You will receive an outcome notification via email.
• Official parent notifications will be issued by the district. All rescinded transfers take effect Monday, January 5, 2026.

• Hold a meeting with the parent/guardian to discuss the recommendation.
• Submit a formal request to the Enrollment & Attendance Office using the link below by Friday, December 12.

School Rescind Link:

https://forms.office.com/r/3HnKG1dd5e

Access your list of transfer students by logging into PowerSchool Enrollment and clicking on “General Choice 2025-26."

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.

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 primary attention should be on students who have been withdrawn due to 10 consecutive unexcused absences.
• Regularly monitor your withdrawal list in PowerSchool and contact your assigned Truancy Liaison for guidance and support.
• Ensure all withdrawal documentation is complete and accurate, including evidence of outreach efforts and parent contact attempts, before finalizing the student’s withdrawal.
• Each School is required to designate individuals to conduct SART Meetings and those meetings must be logged in PowerSchool. This is imperative as we continue to identify students who are habitually absent/truant in school.

Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

• Registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open in Spring 2026 for both new and returning students. Parents will be able to submit their registration and update necessary information by logging into their PowerSchool Parent Portal. 
• For any questions, please contact Stacey Davis at daviss2@scsk12.org.

• Detailed registration information can be accessed at: https://registration.powerschool.com/admin/login/login.rails
• The online School Choice transfer application portal for the 2026–2027 school year will open on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
• Choice transfer options should be strategically utilized for student recruitment, retention, and reclamation efforts. (Recruit, Retain, and Reclaim.)
• To ensure accessibility of information, post registration times for parents in highly visible locations and at all school entrances.
• Schedule Registration Night(s) to support families through the enrollment process. Contact the Office of Enrollment and Attendance for assistance as needed.
• The Registration Team is required to attend refresher training sessions available in PLZ.

Immunization Compliance and Student Enrollment

• Schools should not withdraw students solely due to non-compliance with immunization requirements.
• Schools are directed to continue active engagement, provide support, and document all outreach efforts to assist families in achieving full compliance with required health standards.

Correctly Entering OSS Attendance in PowerSchool

To ensure accuracy and compliance in student records, please adhere to the following guidelines when recording Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) attendance in PowerSchool:

• Manual Coding Requirement: Only the first 1 to 10 days of an Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) should be manually coded in PowerSchool.
• Mass Assignment Restriction: Schools must refrain from mass assigning future OSS attendance beyond the 10th day.

Upcoming Dates and Meetings

• December 11 - Attendance Liaisons Meeting
  • 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. - Location: Southwind High School
• January 8 - Attendance Practices and Processes Training
  • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. - Location: TTC - Lauderdale Lab
• January 27 - Application period for School Choice Transfers begins.
• Spring 2026 - New and Returning Student Registration Opens

Free Student Health Screenings

Free health screenings will be provided at the school for all students. The screenings will include:

• Height and Weight
• Vision
• Hearing
• Blood pressure
• Scoliosis screening

Parents who wish for their child to participate must scan the QR code on the flyer to complete the sign-up process.

Health Screening Calendar: Principal Screening Schedule 2025 Sem 2.xlsx 

Health Screening Flyer: English&Spanish Consent Flyer.pdf

Immunizations

ShotRX is partnering with schools to provide required immunizations for students. Parents may register their child by scanning the QR code provided on the flyer. Upon completion of registration, ShotRX will coordinate with the school to schedule an onsite immunization date. 

ShotRX Flyer: ShotRx English and Spanish flyer.pdf

School-Based Health Clinics

MSCS provides access to two school-based health clinics available to all students. These clinics, located at East High School and Sheffield CTC, operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

School-Based Health Clinic Flyer: SBC English and Spanish flyer.pdf

On behalf of Dr. Balaji Krishnaiah, Vice Chair of Education, Stroke Division Chief, and Neurology Residency Program Director at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Department of Neurology, I am thrilled to share an incredible opportunity for your students: Brain Bee!

Brain Bee is part of an international movement founded in 1998 to inspire high school students to learn about the brain and consider careers in neuroscience – fields that are vital to treating and curing brain disorders. This year, we are proud to bring this exciting Neuroscience Competition for Teens to Shelby County for the first time!

More details are included in the flyer linked here. This is a unique chance for students to challenge themselves, explore cutting-edge science, and connect with a community passionate about brain health. To be considered for participation in the Memphis Brain Bee, please submit this application by Friday, January 30.

If you have any questions, please reach out to brainbee@uthsc.edu. We would love for your school and students to be part of this amazing event!

We’re excited to share an opportunity for your students to showcase their knowledge and creativity! In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Tennessee Secretary of State has announced the 2026 Civics Essay Contest with the theme:
“Tennessee, America at Its Best.”

Students in grades K–12 are encouraged to participate for a chance to win scholarships and an unforgettable trip to the State Capitol, including an award luncheon, serving as a legislative page, and a behind-the-scenes tour.

Submission deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026
Learn more and access contest rules at: sos.tn.gov/civics-essay-contest

Let’s inspire the next generation of engaged citizens!

Nominations are now open for the Memphis Business Journal’s Next Gen program, and we don’t want your students to miss out on this incredible opportunity. Next Gen connects emerging young leaders (ideally juniors) with influential business professionals and top decision makers across Memphis, opening doors to meaningful mentorship, valuable exposure, and even potential summer internships that can shape future careers.

Each high school team is asked nominate up to two well-rounded students who demonstrate promise, curiosity, and a commitment to making a difference in their school and community. These aren’t necessarily the most visible students or those with highest GPA, but those who show early leadership, engagement, and a genuine interest in exploring the world of business.

Selected students will be paired with mentors and welcomed into signature MBJ events, gaining experiences that can truly set them apart. To support your nominees, we ask for a brief testimonial from a school representative and guidance for students throughout the process.

Your participation makes all the difference and we hope to see even stronger engagement this year as we work together to elevate our next generation of Memphis leaders.

Nominations are due Saturday, January 31, 2026. For more information, visit: https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/nomination/89185/2026/2026-next-gen#/

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Billy J. Walker <walkerbj@scsk12.org>.

The District's Spelling Bee is back! We’re encouraging all elementary and middle schools to host a school-level Spelling Bee and give students the chance to showcase their spelling skills and confidence on stage.

The MSCS Spelling Bee will highlight our spectacular spellers in grades 1-8. But first, they’ll need to win your school’s spelling bee by Friday, January 23, 2026. Now is the time to identify your Spelling Bee Coordinator and plan for e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-c-e.

Sign-Up Here: Spelling Bee Intent to Participate 2025-26  Due: Friday, December 19, 2025

Below are the key dates to keep in mind as you guide your school through this exciting season:

Friday, December 19, 2025

Conclude all Classroom Spelling Bees

Intent to Participate Form Due 

Friday, January 23, 2026

Conclude all Grade 1–8 School-wide Spelling Bees.

Select one overall winner and one alternate per grade band (i.e., 1–2, 3–5, and 6–8).

These representatives will compete in the district-wide Spelling Bee.

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Save the Date for the District-wide MSCS Spelling Bee

If you have questions about how to get started, join us please let us know.

For more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, visit spellingbee.com/enrollment to learn more and register your school. Participation in the Scripps Bee is NOT required for participation in the MSCS Spelling Bee.

Thank you for all you do to create meaningful learning opportunities for our students and for helping them build confidence through friendly academic competition!

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

Effective immediately, please discontinue using LanguageLine Solutions for on-demand interpretation and translation services. The district has transitioned to a new interpretation service for oral communication with families: RTT Mobile Interpretation.

Follow these steps to access the service:

Dial:

• Spanish Hotline: 866-218-2224
• Multi-Language Hotline: 888-218-3544

Provide:

• Account Number: 83893#

Enter:

• Access Code: 20050#

Important:

• Use the Spanish hotline for calls requiring Spanish interpretation.
• Use the multi-language hotline for all other languages.

For translation requests, continue submitting your work ticket in Ivanti.

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Multilingual Learners at 901-416-5411.

**Please refer to this ​​link​​ for a document on how to access the system. 

In-Person Support 

(Requests must be submitted at least seven (7) days in advance.) 

Interpretation Requests for non-Exceptional Education Department meetings: 

Visit the Ivanti Work Orders icon on the Edugoodies website. 

Select Service Catalog 

On the left menu, click ESL 

Choose ESL Interpreter Request  

Document Translation Requests: 
Follow the same steps above and select ESL Translation Request. 

This includes options for translating all general school-based documents except transcripts. 

District-wide translations for Spanish are handled by the Bilingual Communications team within the Communications Department. To request this service, click on Communications on the left menu. 

Transcript Requests: 

Follow the same steps above and select ESL Transcript Analysis Request. 

Please ensure that all ESL students are correctly assigned an ESL and/or ELD course code in PowerSchool. Accurate course coding is required for compliance, as it provides evidence of the delivery model the ESL teacher is implementing. Additionally, assigning the correct course codes also allows teachers to receive monitoring forms in compliance with the TDOE. ​​​​K-5 ESL Course Codes​​​​. ​​​6-8 ESL Course Codes​​​. ​​​9-12 ESL Course Codes​​​. 

The ELPA21 Summative testing window is approaching quickly!  All testing devices to be used for the administration of the ELPA21 Summative MUST be updated to the latest version of the Secure Browser by Wednesday, December 17th.   
 

Windows: Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Currently, Cambium's Secure Browser 18 will support all Windows 10 and 11 versions released after May 2025. Windows 10 devices will not be supported for testing in school year 2026-2027.  

ChromeOS: Cambium has introduced a new Secure Browser (Progressive Web App) for ChromeOS for the 2025–26 school year. The current Kiosk app (8.0) for ChromeOS will remain valid during the 2025-26 school year, but only for ChromeOS version 138.  The new PWA will be required starting from version 139 and will continue to be supported on all future ChromeOS versions.

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, and Content Area Leads. Counselors and Administrators are encouraged to participate as well. The Q2 ESL Data Meeting Template can be found ​​​here.​​​ For questions, reach out to Mr. Michael Cortez, cortezl@scsk12.org, or Ms. 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  

December 17 - Q2 ILP Monitoring Forms Due in ELLevation for all ELs/Ws/T1s/T2s 

January 9 – ELPA21 Summative Training Certifications Due to ESL Advisors; for all ESL Teachers and any teachers who will be administering the ELPA assessment 

January 13 and January 15 - ELPA21 Summative Training for BTCs only; 2 sessions will be held each day from 8-11 AM and 12-3 PM; BTCs will only attend one session and no ESL teachers should attend 

January 13 - ESL 101 for New/Novice ESL Teachers, 4:00-5:30 PM - "Preparing for the ELPA21 Summative Assessment" 

January 14 – Q2 Retention Prevention/ML ASAP Work Samples Due in ELLevation  

January 14 - January ESL Monthly Meeting for all ESL Teachers, Virtual on Teams, 8:15 AM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM

Fall SY25-26 Student Perception Survey Results are coming soon.  School Administrators should now have access to survey data. Please note the following:

Survey results may be viewed via the Panorama Education Platform.

School Administrators should use their District Single Sign-On to access the platform.

Administrators may sign up to attend a TEAMs session titled Understanding Student Perception Survey Results for Administrators, to better understand school-level results and plan next steps. PLZ Course# 48824 

The NIE Mid-Year Conference container is now open and accessible in PLZ.

The deadline to complete ALL NIE Mid-Year Conferences in PLZ is February 13, 2026.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• ALL required fields should be completed in its entirety before finalizing.
• The Goal Setting Conference should be completed within 30 days of an NIE employee’s hire/contract start date AND should be completed BEFORE completing the Mid-Year Conference in PLZ.
• The Mid-Year Conference is NOT required for NIE Partial plans and will not appear as a container to complete.

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

The deadline to complete TEAM Cycle I for Principals, Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, and Deans of Students is Friday, December 19, 2025.  

As a reminder, TEAM Administrators must select their evaluator.

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

This meeting is exclusively for principals. We will celebrate semester achievements, reaffirm alignment with district priorities, and set actionable goals for spring success under the theme:
“The Winter Work That Grows Spring Results.”

• Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
• Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: Teaching & Learning Academy (TLA) Auditorium
• Attire: Festive Holiday Attire & Sneakers
• Flyer: Principals Meeting Dec 16 TLA Auditorium.png
• Agenda: 12.16.2025 December Principals' Meeting Agenda.pdf

Please review the agenda in advance and come prepared to engage in collaborative discussions and leadership reflections.

Report Updates:

• Filters for students in the Bottom 25% in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies have been updated with 2023-2024 data. These can be found using the Group and Group Type filters in most dashboards (Student Attendance, Student Enrollment, Student Discipline, Student Assessment, Student Grades, Tutoring, High School Progress, District 360, RTI2-A, and Summer Learning Academy). For more on filtering, click here.
   
• Data for the 4th 20-Day period is available in the Show Up for Greatness report. Click here to see the user guide for this report.
   
• In Student Grades, all reports with a student table now have a flag for Core Courses. As defined by the State, Core Courses include English Language & Literature, Life & Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Social Studies & History. Click here for the Student Grades user guides.
   
• In Student Grades: District Quick Report, new metrics identify the number and percent of 1st-12th grade students failing 1 or more core courses and the number and percent of  Kindergarten students with non-Mastery Core Course grades. Click here to see the user guide.
   
• In Student Grades: Raw Data, two data quality flags have been added. One flag shows Kindergarten students with an incorrect letter grade (Mathematics and English Language & Literature courses should have an M or X. Any non- Math or English courses should have and E, S, N, or U). The other flag identifies courses with missing or inaccurate course codes. Click here to see the user guide for this report.
   
• i-Ready data will be available during the Winter testing window (12/15 to 1/23). Data will populate the following day (starting 12/16) and can be found in the Student Assessment: i-Ready Report and in the RTI-A Universal Screener Reports. For more info on the Student Assessment report, click here. For more on the RTI-A reports, click here.

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Upcoming Training Sessions:

No Virtual Office Hours this week. We’ll be back in January (1/6 and 1/8), with sessions on i-Ready and RTI Screener Reports. See you then!

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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Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.

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Starting in February, we have two new dashboard specific trainings available. 

Each month, we will have a training session on the High School Progress Dashboard (Course Code 49628 in PLZ) and on the Student Discipline Dashboard (Course Code 49629 in PLZ). Sign up today!

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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.   

We have great news! The District’s Multilingual Communications Team has begun publishing the most frequently visited websites in Spanish. This month, we launched the Registration webpage. Visit www.scsk12.org/registration, and click on the red ESPAÑOL button in the upper right corner. There you’ll find all the information in Spanish. More MSCS webpages in Spanish are coming soon!

Please, share this information with anyone who may benefit from it.