September 25, 2026
Please review the MTSS Lead Weekly Updates for the week of 9/21.
- Attention: Elementary Principals - Jumpstart's Read for the Record, Thursday, February 27, 2027.
- Jumpstart’s Read for the Record raises public awareness about the importance of early childhood education programs, early literacy, and community involvement for all children of every income level by gathering to read the same book on the same day. We are requesting that every elementary school join us in setting a new world record in a way that engages our entire community – children, families, and civic leaders – in our schools.
- The 2027 Read for the Record Book is Brave Like a Lion! How a Puppeteer Found Her Voice by Megan Piphus and illustrated by Niña Mata.
- The Department of Curriculum & Instruction has purchased a special, paperback edition of Brave Like a Lion! How a Puppeteer Found Her Voice for our Pre-K through 2nd grade teachers in order for them to participate with their students on the campaign day – February 27, 2027. In addition, Jumpstart has resources available online for educators, including classroom activities, lesson plans, certificates of participation, registration guidelines, and other pertinent materials.
- Each year, the Department of Curriculum & Instruction recommends one elementary school to serve as a host school for the District celebration of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign. While all elementary schools will participate, dignitaries will receive special District invitations to attend the celebration at the host school and media coverage will be concentrated on that site.
- This year we are asking schools that are interested in being selected to become the host school complete the form at https://bit.ly/27RFTRHOSTAPP by Friday, October 23, 2026. One elementary school will be selected from the submitted applications by the Department of Academic Affairs to host the event.
- Below are suggestions to assist with planning your celebration:
- Garner the support of faculty and staff for assistance with decorations for storytimes.
- Invite parents and community leaders to participate in-person and/or serve as virtual guest readers on February 27, 2027.
- Encourage whole-school participation. We want every student to hear Brave Like a Lion! How a Puppeteer Found Her Voice on February 27, 2027, even though the focus is on early literacy.
- Your school will receive a copy of Brave Like a Lion! How a Puppeteer Found Her Voicefor each PreK through 2nd grade classroom.
- Ensure that the books are shared with all Pre-K through 2nd grade teachers.
- Let us know what you are planning so we can share!
- If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Alicia Fields, fieldsa@scsk12.org, Library Services Instructional Advisor, or Dr. Rahmod Traylor, traylorr@scsk12.org, Educational Support Manager.
- Below are suggestions to assist with planning your celebration:
The District is beginning the testing process for Civics for the 2026-2027 school year. In accordance with usual procedures, we are asking building leaders to use the following form to designate a Civics Lead for your school to serve as the main point of contact for all Civics exam procedures and updates.
Civics Lead Designation Form 2026-2027
Please contact Sonya Porter, 9-12 Social Studies Manager, at portersb@scsk12.org if you have any questions.
Audience: BIOLOGY Science Teachers & Administrators
Pacing Correction: Standard BIO1.LS1.7 (Nervous System Integration & Behavioral Response) is relocated from Quarter 2 (November) into the final week of September.
The information within this link below shares that the standard above is to be taught in the last week of September.
https://canva.link/biology-update
Contact:
Terilyn McChriston, Ed.S
Curriculum and Instruction K-12 Science Manager
mcchristontj@scsk12.org
From Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett: Sign up today for the Tennessee Student Mock Election. The mock election is a non-partisan, educational experience that gives Tennessee students a chance to learn how elected officials are selected. All Tennessee students are welcome to participate.
1) Sign up your school online
2) Review our civics lesson plans and resources
Topics: Citizenship, Roles of Elected Officials, Campaigning, the Voting Process, State & Local Government, The Constitution, and Colonial Government
3) Gather resources provided by our office
Each participating school will be provided the following resources:
- A PDF of a mock ballot that can be printed (which is available for download).
- "I Voted" stickers (which will be sent via mail).
- A Student Mock Election "I Voted" sign (which is available to download).
4) Conduct your mock election
The Secretary of State’s office will provide printable mock election ballots. However, schools may conduct their mock election in whatever manner works best for their students.
5) Report your school's results
Results can be reported beginning on October 14, 2026, and must be submitted by October 28, 2026. Instructions for reporting will be provided to each school’s designated contact via email.
Use of ESL Staff for Substitute Coverage
To maintain compliance with state and federal requirements, ESL teachers should not be utilized for substitute coverage. Schools are responsible for scheduling ESL teachers and English Learners appropriately to ensure that all required daily service hours are provided. ESL teacher positions are funded to deliver direct explicit ESL instruction, create and maintain Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) and monitoring forms, and collaborate with content teachers. ESL staff should not be assigned to cover general education, content-area, or proximity courses during times they are scheduled to provide ESL services.
ESL Screening and Parent Notification Requirements
Per TDOE Rule 0520-01-19 and Program Policy 3.207, after the start of the school year, newly enrolled NELB students must be screened with 14 days of enrollment. Please contact your ESL advisor if you need support with this process.
ESL Exit Ceremony Celebration
We are proud to celebrate students who exited ESL services in the 2025–2026 school year. Please join us for the Exit Ceremony on Thursday, September 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Greater Imani Church, 3824 Austin Peay Hwy., Memphis, TN 38128. Let’s honor our students' hard work and achievements together!
ESL Course Code Assignments
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.
Co-Teaching and Sheltered ESL services require an ESL course code in addition to the content course code. Reference the course code documents linked below to find the specific co-teaching ESL codes by grade level. For scheduling support, contact your assigned ESL advisor.
K-5 ESL Course Codes 6-8 ESL Course Codes 9-12 ESL Course Codes
Quarter 1 Monitoring Forms
Quarter 1 Monitoring Forms are now available in ELLevation. Teachers of Multilingual Learners are required to complete a monitoring form for each English Learner (EL) they are assigned to teach. For any EL who has received a failing grade, the content-area teacher must also upload three student work samples demonstrating that appropriate scaffolds and accommodations were provided for each assignment. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your assigned ESL Advisor. Forms must be completed by October 2.
October 1 Deadline
October 1 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 October 1. Please work with your ESL teachers to ensure students are identified and screened by this date.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities & Key Dates
In-Person PDs are offered at the Office of Multilingual Learners (OML) unless otherwise indicated – 5151 Scottsdale Ave., Memphis, TN 38118
Oct. 1 - Learning A-Z Webinar, Virtual 4-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 - Q1 Monitoring Forms Due
Oct. 6 - ESL 101 4-5:30 p.m. (New and Novice Teachers) @ Wooddale High Library: "Diving into ELPA21"
Oct. 6-8 – ESL Inactive Folder Intake @ Office of MLs, ESL Teachers should sign up for drop-off time.
Oct. 7 - Using Data: From Scores to Skills, 4-5:30 p.m. @ Office of MLs
Oct. 7 - Monthly Meeting (Self-Paced)
Oct. 21 - Instructional Strategies for Dually Identified Students – Session 1
Hours towards Fall Flex Day: SPED/ESL: Foundations for Inclusive Instruction – PLZ # 50172
*Self-Paced and in-person Co-Teaching Training is available to schools upon request. Reach out to your assigned ESL advisor to learn how to provide these trainings to your staff.
Dear Principals,
It’s that exciting time of year again! We are pleased to announce the launch of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools 2026–2027 Teacher of the Year nomination process, and we invite you to help recognize an exceptional educator in your school community.
Please nominate one outstanding teacher who exemplifies excellence in education, inspires students and colleagues, and demonstrates a strong commitment to academic achievement and student growth.
Please submit your 2026–2027 MSCS Teacher of the Year nomination here by Friday, October 2, 2026
Your nomination will help us celebrate the dedication and impact of our educators across the District. Thank you for your continued support in recognizing the remarkable talent within your school.
Contact Us: performanceandleadership@scsk12.org
Please encourage educators who are new to student perception surveys to attend this virtual professional development session on Tuesday, September 29, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Participants will develop an understanding of how student voice contributes to professional learning, explore the Student Perception Survey process, and become familiar with the Panorama platform used to collect and review feedback.
Register in PLZ: Course# 50929
Fine Arts, Physical Education (2nd and 5th grades), Pre-K, and World Language (French and Spanish) educators will submit TEAM Student Growth Portfolios for SY2026-27. Please complete the TEAM Student Growth Portfolio Teacher Information form by Friday, September 25.
Questions or concerns? Please email eps@scsk12.org.
For RETURNING NIE Evaluators that were previously NIE Certified during SY2025-2026, NIE Recertification is NOT REQUIRED for SY2026-2027. Eligible Returning NIE Evaluators will be automatically identified and added as NIE Evaluators in PLZ for SY2026-27.
NEW NIE Evaluators
Register in PLZ: Course #50057
The SY26-27 Growth & Achievement selection window is open in PLZ.
School Leader Action Required
Building leaders should collaborate with teachers to ensure an achievement measure is selected that aligns as closely as possible to each educator's primary teaching assignment.
Please ensure:
- All required Growth & Achievement selections are completed by October 2, 2026.
- Educators receive support in identifying the most appropriate achievement measure.
- Evaluators monitor completion progress throughout the selection window.
Guidance documents and step-by-step resources are available in PLZ under the Resources tab.
Need Assistance?
Employee Performance & Support is available to support schools throughout the selection process.
Phone: 901-416-2475
Email: Support-EPS@scsk12.org
The NIE Goal Setting Conference is open in PLZ!
IMPORTANT: NIE Employees will need to select their evaluator first, in order for the evaluator to have access to their NIE plan in PLZ. In addition, the evaluator must be NIE Certified.
View the flyer below for important information, key dates, and resources to help you get started.
Goal Setting Conferences are due by October 23, 2026.
Questions? Contact EPS@scsk12.org
The TEM TEACHer Training Series is open for ALL teachers. This series will continue with Indicators 5, 6, and 7 by supporting educators with identifying teacher and student actions that guide effective instruction at performance levels 3-5 of the TEACH indicators.
Next Fall Session:
- Indicators 5, 6, & 7: October 5, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Register in PLZ, course #50609.
For questions or support, please reach out to eps@scsk12.org.
All SY26-27 evaluation plans have rolled out successfully and are now available in PLZ.
For employees assigned to NIE or TEAM evaluation plans, an evaluator must be selected before the employee will appear in the evaluator's Staff Evaluation tab in PLZ. School leaders should monitor evaluator selections and follow up with staff members who have not yet completed this step.
Evaluation Track Assignments
At the beginning of the school year, educators are assigned to one of two evaluation tracks:
Novice Track
Educators are assigned to the Novice Track if they:
- Do not have a prior-year Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) score; or
- Have missing or incomplete evaluation components from the previous year, including observations, professionalism, or student growth measures.
Proficient Track
Educators who are expected to generate a Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) score during the current school year are assigned to the Proficient Track.
New MSCS Educators with Pending Tennessee LOE Scores
If your school has educators who transferred from another Tennessee district and are expected to receive a SY25-26 LOE score, please encourage them to notify Employee Performance & Support once their score becomes available.
Upon verification of the score in TN Compass, EPS will update the educator's evaluation track, as appropriate.
Future Evaluation Track Adjustments
Evaluation tracks will be automatically updated in mid-January to reflect verified SY25-26 LOE scores.
School leaders may monitor updated track assignments through:
- PLZ
- Evaluation KPI Dashboard
Questions or Concerns
Please review evaluation plans and track assignments for your staff. If you identify discrepancies or have questions regarding an educator's evaluation plan or track assignment, contact Employee Performance & Support for assistance.
Join the Department of Performance & Leadership Development for our high-impact October session series designed for Principals, APs, VPs, PLC Coaches/Instructional Facilitators, MTSS Leads, and Aspiring Leaders!
Cultivating Growth: BOY Data & Coherence Session
- Facilitator Name: Daniel L. Jack, Ed.D.
- October 1
- October 8
- 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- TLA – Room 115
Optimizing Teacher Growth through Teacher Observation and an Intentional Cycle of Support
- Facilitator Name: Trisha McCarter, M.Ed.
- October 15
- 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- TLA – Room 115
- October 15
School Leaders,
We are sharing the Digital Citizenship flyer to help you plan for the September 28–October 28, 2026, districtwide participation window. All K–12 schools will participate as we work toward a District goal of 93% student completion.
Please review the flyer for teacher roles, student access steps, and grade-band courses. Schools may determine when students complete the Canvas lessons within their schedules and use the Digital Citizenship Completion Report to follow their progress.
Thank you for your partnership and support.
Please review the attached 2026-2027 Principals' Calendar for your scheduled Health & Wellness Day. The screenings include hearing, vision, height, weight, blood pressure, and scoliosis screenings for eligible students. 09.07.26.Principal Health Screeening Calendar.pdf
If you have any questions regarding the schedule or the screening process, please contact the Health Promotions Department at 901-416-6432.
Immunization Plan
Please review the Immunization Plan for 2026-2027. 09.28.26.ImmunizationPlan.pdf
Medication Training
Please review the Medication Training for 2026-2027. 09.28.26.MedicationTraining.pdf
CPR/AED/NARCAN Training
Please review the CPR/AED/NARCAN Training Flyer. 09.28.26.CPR.AED.Narcan Classes.pdf
School Care and Immunization Training
Please review the School Care and Immunization Training Flyer. 09.28.26.SchoolCareImmunizationTraining.pdf
Healthy Teams
Please review Healthy Teams for 2026-2027. 09.28.26.HealthyTeams.pdf
District Approved Medical Service Vendors
Please review the list of approved vendors. 09.28.26.DistrictApprovedMedicalServiceVendors.pdf
Assigned School Nurse Absence
Please review the information regarding assigned school nurses' absence. 09.28.26.Nursing.pdf
Physical Education Survey 09.28.26.PESurvey.pdf
2026-2027 Bed Bugs Toolkit 09.28.26.BedBugsToolkit.pdf
2026-2027 Hands, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) Toolkit 09.28.26.HFMDToolkit.pdf
2026-2027 Head Lice Toolkit 09.28.26.LiceToolkit.pdf
Please share this TennCare Eligibility with students without health insurance. 09.28.26.TennCareEligibility.pdf
Please review the proper procedures for completing the Medical Emergency Log. The log must be completed and submitted by the last school day of each month.