Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

PowerSchool Update: General Choice Transfer Warning Letters 

To better support your parent communications, a General Choice Transfer warning letter is now available directly in PowerSchool Enrollment. Simply select the student, and the system will automatically generate the letter – auto-filling the date, student name, address, and default transfer compliance language. Please see the attached Warning Letter.docx for reference.

Important Reminder: Policy 6002 Updates – Transfer Revocations & Warning Letters

Please review the revised Policy 6002 guidelines regarding General Choice Transfers and Shared Residency Requirements. Compliance is required immediately.

Key Updates:

• Semester-End Rescissions: Transfer rescissions will take effect at the end of a semester only.
• Warning Letter Requirement: Before revoking a transfer due to attendance, academic performance, or behavior, principals must issue a written warning letter to parents/guardians.
• PowerSchool Template & Documentation: To simplify this process, a pre-populated warning letter template is now available directly in PowerSchool Enrollment. Select the student to generate a letter pre-filled with student details and default compliance text. Note: You may use your own custom letter, but the written warning and all related communication must be logged and documented in PowerSchool.
• Revised Review Criteria (Page 9, #4): Parents/guardians may only request a review of a revoked transfer under the following specific grounds:
  • Violation of law, policy, regulation, or guideline.
  • Inaccurate information or data (including clerical or system errors).
  • Failure by the school/district to follow proper procedures affecting transfer eligibility.

Strict adherence to the warning letter process ensures due process and clear documentation across the district. Please refer to the attached Warning Letter.docx for reference.

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

ADMIN ACTION REQUIRED: PowerSchool Contact & Security Update

Action Needed: Please copy and paste the notice below into your upcoming school newsletters and family communications. Maintaining accurate family contact details in PowerSchool is vital for student safety, critical emergency alerts, and routine school-to-home communication.

Important PowerSchool Updates for Families

To keep student information secure and ensure you receive critical school updates, please note the following guidelines for your PowerSchool Parent Portal account:

• Updating Contact Details (Web Browser Only): To add or update phone numbers, email addresses, or emergency contacts, log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal using a web browser and select the "Update Communication Preferences" tab. Note: Contact updates cannot be made through the mobile app.
• Removing Contacts: For student security, parents cannot delete contacts online. Contact removal requests must be handled directly by your school’s main office staff.
• Mobile App & Daily Monitoring: Download the PowerSchool mobile app for real-time notifications on grades and attendance, and log in regularly to review your contact profile for accuracy.

MSCS Student Attendance Pact Guide

• As the school year progresses, driving daily attendance continues to be a key priority for our district. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to encourage regular attendance and support meaningful student engagement.
• Our focus is to increase Average Daily Attendance (ADA), reduce Chronic Absenteeism, and lower truancy rates. Please 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 Power Teacher 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.

District Advisory: EOY Planning & Senior Protocols (2026–2027)

Please review the following end-of-year timelines and protocols for the 2026–2027 school year. This early guidance is provided to help school leaders align master schedules, plan senior activities, and communicate attendance expectations to families well in advance.

1. Graduating Senior (GS) Protocol & Key Dates

• The official last day of school for seniors is Monday, May 7, 2027.
• The authorized window to utilize the GS (Graduating Senior) attendance code is May 10-20, 2027. This code will be applied for any seniors remaining in the building or completing requirements during this timeframe.
• GS coding updates are managed exclusively by the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy in PowerSchool. Schools must not make independent adjustments to ensure state reporting compliance.
• Schools must maintain a logged schedule of all senior events. Any activities scheduled outside the May 10-20, 2027 authorized window will not qualify for GS designation.

2. Promotional Ceremonies & End-of-Year Celebrations

• All promotional ceremonies (Kindergarten, 5th grade, and 8th grade) and end-of-year celebrations must be scheduled during the final week of school, beginning Monday, May 17, 2027.

• School leaders must clearly communicate to families that daily attendance remains mandatory through the final day of school. Early disengagement is not permitted, as every instructional day is essential.

3. Attendance Compliance & Family Communication

• Full-day instruction and daily attendance tracking remain mandatory through the final day of school. Early disengagement is not permitted.
• Teachers must record daily attendance accurately in PowerSchool. Falsification of attendance records violates district policy and state law.
• “Senior Skip Day” is strictly non-sanctioned; regular attendance is required of all students through their official end dates.
• High school families (Grades 9–12) will receive automated calls and texts regarding student absences to reinforce real-time attendance tracking through the end of the year.

Action Item for Principals: Incorporate these key dates into your school calendar and parent handbooks. Families will receive a general summary of these expectations later in the school year.

For questions or assistance, please contact the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy at 901-416-2989.

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 2026-27 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 should already be available at your building. 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 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

The safety and security of students, staff, participants, and spectators remain our highest priority at all athletic events. To ensure a safe and well-managed environment, all school personnel are expected to work collaboratively and professionally with MSCS Safety & Security personnel assigned to an event. 

Expectations for Communication and Conduct

• Treat all security personnel professionally as they carry out their responsibilities.
• Use the chain of command for direct concerns or disagreements regarding security procedures Speak with the lead officer on site and avoid public confrontations.
• Any changes to event operations should be communicated and approved through event administration and security leadership in advance.
• School personnel and security staff should communicate consistent messaging to students and spectators to avoid conflicting directives and disrupting operations.
• Decisions related to crowd management and facility operations should be made with the overall safety of participants and spectators in mind.

The administrators' meeting is an ideal time to coordinate with Security and confirm alignment on game operations and event expectations. We all share the same objective: providing a safe, welcoming, and positive experience for participants and spectators. Thank you for your continued commitment to professionalism and student safety.

To ensure the safety, security, and successful operation of varsity football events, schools must provide timely notification of any special event associated with a football contest. Advance notice allows MSCIAA, stadium personnel, security, officials, and support staff to make necessary operational adjustments and ensure a positive experience for all participants and spectators.

Special events include, but are not limited to:

• Homecoming activities
• Senior Night recognitions
• Football classics or showcase events
• Alumni events
• Tailgating activities
• Special pre-game, halftime, or postgame ceremonies
• Any event expected to significantly increase attendance or alter standard game operation

Notification Requirements

All notifications should be submitted by the school's Athletic Director or Principal to Reed Willis (willisrh@scsk12.org) who will coordinate communication with all necessary stakeholders.  Any significant change occurring after communication has been provided to the Athletic Office should be communicated immediately. The earlier MSCIAA is notified, the better we can support your event and ensure a safe, efficient, and successful game-day experience.

• Advance Notice should be given at least 14 days prior to the contest
• Required Information (includes but not limited to):
  • Date and location
  • Description of the event
    • Special presentations occurring before, during, or after the game
    • Tailgates, tents, vendors, promotional areas, or other special setups
    • Estimated attendance
    • Any requests to modify standard game operations
      • Additional gates, staffing personnel, or security requests
      • Gates opening earlier than the standard one-hour window
      • Other schedule modification

Stadium Regulations

• Vehicles are prohibited inside the stadium and must remain in designated parking areas unless specifically authorized.
• All people and items entering a stadium are subject to security screening without exception.
• The MSCS Clear Bag Policy remains in effect.
• Alcohol, smoking, illegal drugs, fireworks, and pyrotechnics are prohibited.

Failure to Notify

Failure to provide timely notification may result in the inability to accommodate requested operational changes or special-event activities. Schools are encouraged to communicate early to ensure proper planning, staffing, and a safe environment for all attendees.