The Tennessee Department of Education is hosting statewide Acceleration for All support for school leaders, which is designed to ensure every student has access to rigorous, grade-level instruction supported by high-quality instructional materials. The virtual learning and collaboration calls provide an opportunity for leaders to engage in collaborative learning, strengthen system coherence, and refine strategies that accelerate outcomes for all students inside their schools. 

To support ongoing growth, all school leaders can access state-provided asynchronous courses designed to deepen understanding of Acceleration for All and strengthen leadership practices. These courses (each module takes about 30-45 minutes) allow leaders to learn at their own pace and revisit key concepts between convenings. The current modules include the following (with more expected to launch this year): 

• Module 1: School Leadership for Continuous Improvement: Assess, Analyze, Act 
• Module 2: School Leadership for Continuous Improvement: Structuring and Sustaining the HQIM Cycle of Continuous Improvement 
• Module 3: Casting and Monitoring Your Vision for the Cycle of Continuous Improvement 
• Module 4: Strengthening Your Monitoring Systems

The next Acceleration for All School Leader Learning Call will be held during the first week of March; registration is open for these calls until February 25.   

Questions?

Contact Tiffany Brown with the Tennessee Department of Education

Tiffany.brown@tn.gov

423-677-5663

Please review the week of 2/16/26 MTSS Lead Weekly Updates.

Exceptional Education: A Path to Success: The Department of Exceptional Education is having our Exceptional Education Institute - "Exceptional Education: A Path to Success".  There are opportunities for exceptional educators to present, network, and speak with vendors. Join us! 

Saturday, February 28, 2026

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Colonial Middle School 

Register in PLZ. The course code is 48417 . 

A stipend will be provided for MSCS Exceptional Educators. 

The target audience (administrators, teachers, counselors, librarians, PLC coaches, testing coordinators, other school staff, or all) - Exceptional Education Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Behavior Technicians, ReSET Room Assistants

Contact Erika Williams (williamsem@scsk12.org) or call 416-0625 for questions or additional details.

We will soon be approaching prom season, and we want to ensure that our teams are prepared to support your schools in providing a safe and positive experience for our students. To assist with next steps, please use the link below to share information about your school’s prom (e.g., date, time, location) to be shared with the appropriate teams. This information is requested by Friday, March 6, 2026. 

Recommendations: 

• Send out a reminder with prom expectations, dress code, transportation guidance, and event details.
• Share reminders around healthy decision-making (e.g., via announcements or advisory) and consider encouraging families to talk with their students about prom safety.
• Confirm staff and volunteer roles for chaperones, check-in tables, and emergency response.
• Ensure your security and emergency plans are finalized and shared with all key staff and/or chaperones.

Link to Prom Information Form (Due 3/6/26): https://forms.office.com/r/hW1y8fcRH0 

We have also received communication from our partners at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) regarding their underage drinking presentation to the students and/or families at your school/community organization in efforts to end impaired driving, prevent underage drinking and to help them protect themselves and others. If you are interested, please sign up online and/or contact our Tennessee representative, Nakya Young at 615.360.8055 ext.4754 and Nakya.Young@madd.org.

Thank you for all the work you’re doing to make prom an inclusive, enjoyable, and memorable event for our students.

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

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 awards 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!

We are currently seeking talented and motivated students to participate in the NAACP ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) competition, and we would love your help identifying potential competitors.

ACT-SO is a nationally recognized program that provides students with the opportunity to showcase their academic, artistic, and technical talents while gaining mentorship, enrichment, and scholarship opportunities. Students may compete in a wide range of categories, including STEM, humanities, visual and performing arts, and entrepreneurship.

If you know students who demonstrate strong skills, creativity, leadership, or passion in any area or students who may benefit from encouragement and exposure to this type of opportunity please consider sharing this opportunity and attached documents directly with them.

Additional details about participation, timelines, and support will be shared with interested students and advisors. If you would like to learn more about how to get involved, please follow-up with our local NAACP Memphis Branch at (901) 521-1343 or email sherry@naacpmemphis.org.

For more information, visit: https://naacp.org/our-work/youth-programs/act-so-achievement-program

Link to Application Materials (Due: March 20): NAACP ACT-SO Memphis

Thank you for all you do to support and uplift our students’ talents and aspirations.

We are preparing for our annual Spring Break Learning Academy. The SBLA will offer enrichment for 3,000 students in grades K-8. Elementary and Middle school students will receive additional instruction in ELA, Math, Art, Physical Activity, and STEM.

To ensure accurate enrollment and staffing, parents should enroll students themselves unless there are mitigating circumstances. If a school must assist a parent with enrollment, ensure the parent has agreed that the student will attend the academy.

Please assist in messaging this learning opportunity to your families through your school-based communication platforms. Our goal is to have all 3,000 seats filled for this wonderful educational opportunity. Below you will find a flyer that can be shared on all parent communication outlets.

Spring Break Learning Academy

· Academy Dates: Monday, March 16, 2026 - Wednesday, March 18, 2026

· Registration: Monday, February 2, 2026 - Monday, March 2, 2026

· Limited Spaces Available (3,000)

· Free for K-8 MSCS Students

· Reading, Math, Science, Art & P.E. for K-8 Students (8 A.M.- 3 P.M.)

· Extended Day for Elementary and Middle Schools

· Camps in Every Community 

· Flyers: Spring Break Learning Academy Flyers 

· Register at: http://www.scsssla.org/SBLA

Employee Application Period: Monday, February 2, 2026 - Monday, March 2, 2026

The testing window is now open!  Although the weather prevented us from starting when the window opened on February 2, the closing date of March 25 will remain. 

Test security walkthroughs will be occurring throughout the testing window by ESL Advisors.  Please be sure your BTC has shared the most up-to-date testing schedule with your ESL Advisor.  

All Multilingual Learners assigned a failing grade in Q3 are required to have documentation of scaffolds and accommodations per their ILP uploaded to ELLevation by April 1, 2026. The teacher who assigned the failing grade should provide this documentation to the ESL Teacher to be uploaded. 

The window to complete monitoring forms for Q3 is February 25 and closes on March 11.  All content teachers who teach students who are classified as English Learners are required to complete monitoring forms in ELLevation.   

Multilingual Family Nights are required to be held twice per year, preferably one per semester, and attendance must be recorded. PowerPoint presentations are available in multiple languages in the ESL Teacher SharePoint. For questions or additional support, please contact the Office of Multilingual Learners at 901-416-5411.  

We are pleased to inform you that the district is now using a new interpretation service for oral communication with families, RTT Mobile Interpretation. This service provides live interpretation support for phone calls and includes a dedicated hotline for Spanish as well as a separate hotline for all other languages.  

All staff will use the same 5-digit access code, 20050, when accessing this service. Instructions for utilizing RTT Mobile Interpretation are outlined below for your reference.  

Please follow the instructions to access an interpreter:  

DIAL:  

Spanish Hotline: 866-218-2224  

Multi-language Hotline: 888-218-3544  

PROVIDE: District ID 83893 followed by #   

PROVIDE: 5-digit access code assigned 20050 and #  

March 25: ELPA21 Summative Assessment Window Closes   

March 11: March Monthly Meeting (ESL)

April 1: Q3 Retention Documentation Due

May 25: ELPA21 Summative & ALT ELPA Assessment Scores Released  

Greetings.

As we prepare for upcoming events at the Teaching & Learning Academy, we kindly request that you complete the room reservation link: http://bit.ly/TLARoomRequest, for any room reservation request for June, July, and August 2026 by Friday, April 24, 2026. This will allow the Office of Performance and Leadership Development to plan accordingly and inform you in a timely manner if your request is approved or denied. Requests previously submitted and all additional requests for June, July, and August 2026 will receive a follow-up communication the week of May 4, 2026.

Please note that if your request is approved, it is subject to cancellation due to potential meeting requests from the Superintendent's Office and Board Office. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation to this matter.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to performanceandleadership@scsk12.org.

Greetings School Leaders and Leadership Teams,

The energy of the second semester is here, and we are ready to finish the month of February stronger than ever! This is your last chance to get your team into our final high-impact Leadership Lab for the month.

We are pulling back the curtain on the SDIS/COMPSTAT Framework to master Data-Driven Decision Making: Intentional Cycles of Support. This isn't just a meeting; it’s a strategic launchpad designed to build the capacity of the leaders who drive school culture and academic growth every single day.

Let’s empower our leadership teams and teacher leaders with the "spring-ready" strategies they need to move the needle for our students.

🗓️ Don’t Miss the Final February Session:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:f9f35121-047c-4de9-ad4e-8f0fc1ffd3c4

Performance and Leadership Development 

Dear Principals,

This memo is to inform you that all permit teachers on your staff are invited to participate in the district’s upcoming Aspiring Teacher Support Session. This professional learning opportunity is designed to provide targeted support for teachers who are working toward full licensure or preparing for next steps in the certification process.

Session Details

• Date: February 25
• Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Location: TLA Auditorium

This session will offer:

• Guidance on navigating licensure and certification requirements
• Instructional strategies that support strong classroom practice
• Opportunities to connect with district staff and fellow aspiring educators
• Support aligned to the specific needs of permit teachers

Dear Principals,

This message is to inform you that the Flex Day Cadre Course completion window officially closed on February 20th. Teachers who did not complete all required coursework by this deadline will be considered off-track for Flex Day credit.

A list of all teachers who did not meet the required course completion and scoring criteria will be provided to you no later than Friday, February 27th.

In addition, teachers who successfully met all requirements will see their course credits reflected on their transcripts at that time.

Please ensure that your staff are aware and encourage them to review their updated transcript once credits are posted.

Performance and Leadership Development

We are excited to welcome you to February Leadership Development Week as we engage in the work together!

See the flyer and agendas below for your review:

February 23 LDW Meeting Agendas rev2.18.20261044.pdf

LDW Communication Leaderboard 2.18.2026.pdf

Principals, please ensure all portfolio educators log into their TeachAll Account.  The deadline for Portfolio submissions is 5 pm Friday, May 8.  

Educators must use their state single sign-on to log into the platform.  If educators are unsure of their State SSO ending in @tneducation.net they may reach out to: 

District Portfolio Lead, Floresha Smith  

Subject/Grade Specific Content Advisors listed below: 

Physical Education-Jeremiah Bland or Jim Harbin  

Visual Arts and Theater-Jennifer Shiberou  

World Language-Patrick Fraser  

General Music-Bethany Mayahi  

Secondary Music and Dance-Dena Vaughan  

Pre-K-Christopher Spratlin  

To view Portfolio Educators that have been rostered, please utilize the Evaluation KPI Dashboard.  If you have questions about the educators listed or realize educators are missing, please reach out to the District Portfolio Lead, Floresha Smith. 

The State is seeking a maximum of 100 peer reviewers to score approximately 15,000 portfolio collections to give non-tested teachers an individual growth score as part of their LOE score.  

The number of peer reviewers needed is based on the number of collections submitted from districts across the state. Peer reviewers are paid at a rate of $20.00 per collection scored plus $50.00 for attending two (2) required trainings.  

Candidates must:  

• Have demonstrated content area, grade level, instructional experience and effectiveness; 
• Be detail-oriented and demonstrate a rich understanding of Tennessee’s academic standards; 
• Be familiar with scoring student work; 
• Be comfortable using and have access to technology; 
• Be able to articulate confidence in the portfolio model to demonstrate student growth; 
• Be available to conduct peer reviews throughout the three-week scoring window; 
• Commit to confidentiality; and 
• Preferred: Be an active user in the TNPortfolio Platform. 

(Additional information about the Request for Applications may be found ​​​here​​​.) 

If interested, please complete the application and all requirements of the solicitation no later than 5 PM CT, March 25, 2026. Please direct any questions to Tracy Riddle, the solicitation coordinator: 

Tracy Riddle | Director of Educator Effectiveness  

Office of Academics Andrew Johnson Tower, 9th Floor  

710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243 (629) 203-2005  

Tracy.D.Riddle@tn.gov 

The updated deadline to complete 60% of all TEM Observations is March 27. School Administrators (Principals, VPs, APs, and Deans of Students) and District Leaders may access their school's data using the following link: 

Evaluation KPI Dashboard SY2025-2026 

Questions? Contact EPS by phone,  901.416.2475, or via email  eps@scsk12.org. 

The deadline to complete TEM New Observer Certification is Tuesday, March 31.  New Observers can complete certification through the Canvas Self-Paced course. Course numbers and date information may be found ​​​​​HERE​​​​​.   

For questions or support, please reach out to eps@scsk12.org. 

The Spring Student Perception Survey window will run March 2-13, 2026. Each school's designated SPS Site Coordinator should carefully review all SPS resources using this ​link​ ​ ​to ensure readiness for implementation.  For technical support SPS Site Coordinators may reach out to:

Panorama Support: support+shelbycounty@panoramaed.com

District SPS Lead, Chiquita Allen-Bradley:  allenbradleyc@scsk12.org.

Professionalism containers are currently open for artifact uploads, and they must be finalized and signed by both the educator and the administrator to generate an LOE score.

• Self-Score Submission and Artifact Uploads: April 24, 2026
• End-of-Year and Professionalism Conferences: May 13, 2026

Professionalism Training

New educators or educators needing clarity on the Professionalism component of the TEM Framework are encouraged to attend the upcoming training. This session will provide a clear overview of expectations, artifact submission requirements, scoring alignment, and conference timelines to ensure accurate and timely completion.

Title:  Completing the Professionalism Component of the TEM Framework

Date: March 5, 2026

Location: Virtually via Microsoft Teams (The link to the session will be sent 24 hours before the training)

Course Number: 48775.

For support, contact Chiquita Allen-Bradley

February Support Session will occur on February 27, 2026

ILT Support Session Flyer v2.18.2026228.pdf

Our upcoming Remote Learning Drill/Digital Citizenship will take place from February 23 through March 6. During this time, ALL TEACHERS and STUDENTS (K–12) will participate in a Remote Learning Drill to test our district’s virtual preparedness.

• Building leaders should determine the time allotted for completion to accommodate the school schedule. ​
• K-3 Teachers will lead the remote learning drill via Canvas and follow the grade-band guidance. ​
• 4-12 Teachers will provide support while students navigate the asynchronous lessons via Canvas and follow the grade-band guidance. ​
• All students who are enrolled in school will automatically be rostered into their respective grade band courses.

To assess our preparedness, teachers and students should complete the following steps:

• Log in to Clever.
• Access Canvas.
• Choose the appropriate grade level course from your dashboard.
  • MC K-2 Grade Remote Learning Drill & Digital Citizenship 25-26
    • Online Communities and Cyberspace, Appropriate Online Behavior, Introduction to AI and Digital Safety and Security​
  • MC 3rd Grade Remote Learning Drill & Digital Citizenship 25-26
    • Online Communities and Cyberspace, Appropriate Online Behavior, Appropriate Sources, Introduction to AI and Digital Safety and Security​
  • MC 4th-8th Grade Remote Learning Drill & Digital Citizenship 25-26
    • Appropriate Online Behavior, Media Literacy, Appropriate Sources, Introduction to AI, and Digital Safety and Security​
  • MC 9th-12th Grade Remote Learning Drill & Digital Citizenship 25-26
    • Appropriate Online Behavior, Media Literacy, Appropriate Sources, Introduction to AI, and Digital Safety and Security
• Complete all course modules.

All schools, K–12, will participate in the Remote Learning Drill to ensure readiness for upcoming state assessments and any potential remote learning needs.

Updated data in the Digital Citizenship Completion Report will start populating the week of February 23rd. ​Click here for the user guide.​

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact SCSCleverAdmins@scsk12.org.

The deadline to complete NIE Mid-Year Conferences has been extended to February 27, 2026.

As a reminder: 

• 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 Secretary of State’s office is launching the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level and Silver Level awards for Tennessee high schools, which meet student voter registration thresholds.

Gold Level: 100% of eligible students, 18 and older by the next election, are registered to vote. The Secretary of State’s office will gift the school with a commemorative plaque and gift personalized certificates to Student Ambassadors.

Silver Level: 85% of eligible students, 18 and older by the next election, are registered to vote. The Secretary of State’s office will gift personalized certificates to the school and Student Ambassadors.

The award is named in honor of renowned Tennessee suffragist Anne Dallas Dudley. One of the central figures in the women’s suffrage movement, she worked tirelessly to secure the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Learn more about Anne Dallas Dudley and Women's Suffrage in Tennessee on the Tennessee Virtual Archive.

All Tennessee public and private schools as well as home school associations are encouraged to participate in the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program.

Tennessee law allows students who are either 18 years of age, or 17 years of age and will be 18 by the date of the next election to register to vote.

Completed applications will be accepted until March 13, 2026.

Link to More Information: https://sos.tn.gov/anne-dallas-dudley-award

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

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

Health Screening Flyer: English&Spanish Consent Flyer.pdf

Health Screening Calendar: Semester 2 Principal Screening Schedule 25-26.xlsx

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 are located at East High School and Sheffield CTC and operate Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

School-Based Health Clinic Flyer: SBC English and Spanish Flyer with QR Code.pdf

Promoting free health screenings to students is essential to supporting student success and family well-being.

Decline in School Health Screening: Decline in Health Screenings.pdf

Please view Immunization Plan with updated data as of February 20th.

Immunization Plan 2025-2026: Immunizations Report 2.20.pdf

Medication Training Information: Medication Training 2.20.pdf

As communicated through the CUFD, the Physical Activity Compliance Report from the Department of Education will be open in ePlan January 26 through March 13. Building principals are responsible for submitting data for their school related to integration of K-12 physical activity integration into the academic school day as well as physical education requirements for elementary students.

Guidance for completing this brief report is available on the ePlan homepage, as well as user access forms should you not have access to our district, and a link to office hours every Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. CST, 10:30-11:30 a.m. EST.

Physical Activity Compliance Report: PA Compliance Report 2.20.pdf

Physical Activity Compliance Guidance: FY26 PA Compliance Guidance Principals.pdf

Physical Activity ePlan User Access: ePlan User Access_PAComp_2026_Principals.pdf