Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

Reminder: Policy 6002 Revisions & Compliance

Please take a moment with your team to review the updated Policy 6002 guidelines:

• General Choice Transfers: Ensure strict adherence to transfer rescission timing (end-of-semester only), mandatory written warning letter procedures, and review grounds for revoked transfers to protect due process.
• Shared Residency: Confirm you have three valid address verification documents on file (excluding promotional mail) and that the required shared residency notice is prominently posted in your front office.

Ensure administrative and front office staff are fully aligned with these requirements.

Homeschool Guidance for Families

• Information & Inquiries: For questions regarding homeschooling options, parents can contact mscshomeschool@scsk12.org.
• Ready to Apply: Families can submit their formal application directly through the MSCS Homeschool Application Portal.
• Re-Enrolling in MSCS: Parents interested in re-enrolling students from homeschool back into the district can view the Re-Enrollment Information Flyer for details and next steps.

Attendance Procedures and Reminders

• With the school year underway, daily attendance remains a top district goal. All staff are encouraged to reinforce consistent presence and keep students engaged.
• Our focus is to increase Average Daily Attendance (ADA), reduce Chronic Absenteeism (CA), and lower truancy rates. Attendance Liaisons will align with truancy prevention, RTI-B frameworks, and counseling services to address barriers early. Explore the MSCS Student Attendance Pact Guide to see how students, families, and staff can team up to make every day count.
• CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE MSCS ATTENDANCE PACT GUIDE

Action Required: Daily Attendance Compliance

Principals, accurate daily attendance tracking is critical to student safety, truancy monitoring, and our district compliance under MSCS Policy 6014. Please ensure your teaching staff follows these required procedures:

• Teachers must submit attendance electronically in PowerTeacher Pro within the first 10 minutes of every class period or homeroom.
• Paper rosters or offline forms are strictly prohibited.
• Office staff and attendance administrators must review and fully reconcile all daily attendance discrepancies before the end of the school day.
• Daily record-keeping is a legal and district mandate. Unsubmitted or falsified attendance directly impacts state funding and places your school out of compliance.

Thank you for your leadership in keeping your building on track and maintaining 100% daily compliance across all classrooms.

Student Withdrawal & No-Show Reminder

• No-Show Withdrawals: Please clear all attendance entries before processing a no-show withdrawal, and backdate the exit date to August 3, 2026.

• Ensure you select the correct exit code when withdrawing a student, and update any existing codes promptly to maintain accurate records.
• Always include a detailed comment explaining the reason for the withdrawal.
• For questions or guidance, reach out to our office at studentservices@scsk12.org.

Student Absence Form via PowerSchool Parent Portal

• Encourage parents to regularly verify and update their contact details via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• Parents can submit and track absence notifications directly from their mobile devices or computers using the Student Absence Form in the portal.  Attendance Pact Guide Infographic.pdf

"Show Up for Greatness" District Initiative

We are continuing the Show Up for Greatness initiative to support our regional service model and tiered interventions:

• Tier 1: Show Up for Greatness
• Tier 2: Everyday Counts
• Tier 3: Be Present. Be Great.

Schools will continue using the Show Up for Greatness tracking application to monitor progress and log student supports. Supports must be logged for every 20-day period, with all entries recorded promptly at the end of each cycle.

Truancy Procedures and Reminders

Administrative Action Items

• Update Team Contacts: Complete the 26-27 Attendance Team School Contact List promptly to ensure your school receives critical truancy updates and support this year.

Digital Truancy Clearances

The MSCS Truancy Clearance process is officially moving online.

• Families can submit clearance requests directly via a direct web link or QR code, streamlining the process and reducing campus paperwork.
• Digital clearance posters featuring the link and QR code will arrive on campuses soon. Please display and share these resources with families as needed.

SART Meeting & Truancy Clearance Guidance

As we strengthen our attendance practices, please ensure schools and attendance teams hold SART meetings for all students with five (5) or more unexcused absences in PowerSchool.

When a student receives a Truancy Clearance to enroll, complete the following:

• Conduct a SART meeting with the student and parent/guardian.
• Complete the Parent Student Support Plan (PSSP).
• Record the appropriate PSSP log entry in PowerSchool.

 Access the PowerSchool PSSP Step Sheet

These steps help us address absences, identify barriers, provide support, and accurately document our efforts to improve attendance. 

Reminder: Immediate Enrollment Under McKinney-Vento

Please ensure students and families experiencing housing instability are enrolled immediately, as required by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and district guidelines.

• Allow the student to start school right away. Do not delay enrollment for missing residency documents, transcripts, immunizations, or a Truancy Clearance.
• Complete and submit the McKinney-Vento/Displaced Student Referral so the family receives support as quickly as possible.
• A Truancy Clearance should never be used as a prerequisite or reason to delay enrolling a student.

If you have questions about eligibility or procedures, please reach out to Dr. Karen Ball-Johnson or the FACE/Special Populations team.

Student Support Services Resource Guide

Student Support Services Resource Guide

Please save and reference this guide to support your staff, students, and school community throughout the year:

Office of Student Support Services Resource Guide

Purpose of Title IX in Athletics

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities, including athletics. Schools are required to provide equitable athletic opportunities, benefits, and services for all students. Equity does not mean identical treatment; rather, it means that the overall athletic experiences and opportunities available to female and male students are comparable.

Principal Responsibility

Principals are responsible for ensuring that athletic programs are administered in a manner that provides fair and equitable opportunities for all student-athletes. Compliance is evaluated by reviewing the overall athletic program and identifying any disparities that negatively affect students based on sex. A single significant inequity or multiple smaller inequities may result in concerns regarding Title IX compliance.

Key Areas of Athletic Equity

Schools should regularly evaluate the following areas to ensure equitable opportunities and treatment for all student-athletes:

1. Accommodation of Interests and Abilities

Schools should provide athletic opportunities that reflect the interests and abilities of both female and male students. Opportunities should be reviewed periodically to ensure participation needs are being met.

2. Equipment and Supplies

Student-athletes should have equitable access to quality equipment, uniforms, practice gear, and supplies. Replacement schedules and overall quality should be comparable across programs.

3. Scheduling of Games and Practice Times

Practice times, competition schedules, and access to facilities should be allocated fairly. One group should not consistently receive preferred practice times or competition opportunities.

4. Travel and Transportation

Transportation arrangements, travel accommodations, and meal allowances associated with athletic participation should be equitable and reasonably comparable across programs.

5. Coaching and Academic Support

Student-athletes should have equitable access to qualified coaches, supervision, and any academic support services provided through athletics.

6. Compensation and Assignment of Coaches

Schools should ensure that coaching assignments, workloads, and compensation practices are administered fairly and equitably.

7. Locker Rooms, Practice, and Competitive Facilities

Facilities used by student-athletes should provide comparable quality, accessibility, maintenance, and convenience. Differences should be based on legitimate sport-specific needs rather than gender.

8. Medical and Training Services

Athletic training services, injury treatment, and medical support should be available equitably to all student-athletes.

9. Publicity and Promotion

Schools should provide equitable visibility and recognition for athletic programs through announcements, websites, social media, publications, awards, and special events.

10. Funding and Support Services

Budget allocations, support services, and access to resources should be reviewed to ensure equitable benefits and opportunities for all athletic programs. Equal spending is not required, but inequitable treatment is prohibited.

Understanding Equity in Athletics

Title IX does not require schools to:

• Offer the exact same sports for girls and boys.
• Spend identical amounts on girls' and boys' athletic programs.
• Provide identical facilities, equipment, or resources.

Instead, Title IX requires schools to provide equivalent athletic opportunities, benefits, and treatment to female and male student-athletes. Compliance is evaluated based on the overall athletic program, including factors such as equipment and supplies, facilities, scheduling, coaching, travel, medical services, and publicity. Differences may be permissible when based on legitimate sport-specific needs or other nondiscriminatory factors, provided they do not result in unequal athletic opportunity.

Booster Clubs and Donations

Booster clubs and community supporters often provide valuable resources to athletic programs. However, schools remain responsible for maintaining equity regardless of the source of funding.

When a donation or booster club contribution significantly benefits one athletic program, administrators should assess whether comparable opportunities and benefits exist for other student-athletes. If disparities result from outside funding, schools may need to take additional steps to maintain equitable athletic opportunities.

Annual Principal Review Checklist

✓ Participation opportunities for all students

✓ Athletic program offerings and student interest

✓ Equipment, uniforms, and supplies

✓ Practice and competition schedules

✓ Facilities and locker rooms

✓ Transportation and travel arrangements

✓ Coaching assignments and support services

✓ Athletic training and medical services

✓ Publicity, recognition, and school communications

✓ Booster club contributions and donations

✓ Equity concerns, complaints, and corrective actions

Key Takeaway

The goal of Title IX athletics compliance is to ensure that all student-athletes have equitable access to opportunities, resources, support, and benefits. Principals play a critical role in monitoring athletic programs, identifying potential disparities, and ensuring that every student has a fair opportunity to participate and succeed in athletics. For additional support please reach out to the Athletic Office  901-416-7740 and/or the MSCS Title IX Office 901-416-5417.