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.

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:

1. A PDF of a mock ballot that can be printed (which is available for download).
2. "I Voted" stickers (which will be sent via mail).
3. 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. 

• SY26-27 NIE Goal Setting Conference Flyer

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

Click here for additional session details.

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.

Medical Emergency Based Logs Instructions.pdf

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

Highlighted Reports:

• Digital Citizenship Canvas course submissions open this week. To assist, you can track student completion with the Digital Citizenship Completion Report in the MSCS Compass. You can also track overall progress (including the number of students who have completed and those remaining) for your school as a whole and by grade level. Central Office staff can track progress across multiple schools and by Region and ILC. The dashboard is scheduled to refresh at 8:30 every morning. Data you see in the report will reflect what is in Canvas the previous day. For the user guide to this report, click here. Digital Ambassadors at each school will have automatic access to the Power BI report. They must be specified as their school’s Digital Learning Ambassador in the School Based Contacts/Leadership Launchpad Power App. For issues related to the Power BI report, please contact DAIMSupport@scsk12.org. If a student is not enrolled in a course or has technical issues with Canvas, please reach out to SCSCleverAdmins@scsk12.org. 
   
• Show Up For Greatness 20-day attendance tier categories have been updated. These updates have been reflected in the Student Attendance report. For more information about the Show Up For Greatness report in the MSCS Compass, click here.

• The Student Discipline dashboard has been updated to include data from the Student Intervention Platform (SIP) in PowerApps. These updates include the release of a new Student Intervention Report. With this report, you can see the number and rate of students with intervention plans and occurrences, by referral reason, plan type, and provider. It also contains student-level intervention plan and occurrence data. This report is designed to assist School and District staff in identifying trends to provide targeted support.  Click here to see the user guide for the new report. Updates have also been made to include intervention plan and occurrence data in the District Quick Report, Raw Data, and Student Report pages. For all the Student Discipline user guides, click here.
   
• Student Attendance includes updated at-risk levels for Chronic Absenteeism. These replace the High, Medium, and Low Risk levels available previously. The new levels include: Less Than 10 Days Enrolled, Low Risk (attendance rates of 95.1-100%), Medium Risk (90.1-95%), High Risk (Recovery Possible) (90% or less, but there are enough days in the year left to recover), and Severe Risk (Recovery Not Possible) (90% or less, and there are not enough days in the year left to recover). This is available in all reports with Chronic Absenteeism Risk data.  For the Student Attendance user guides, click here.

----------------------------  

Upcoming Training Sessions: 

• Virtual Office Hours this week (9/29 and 10/01) will be a review of the updated Chronic Absenteeism Risk Status business rules and metrics.
• For more information on Virtual Office Hours, check out this flyer! Sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
• Check out our Training Calendar for all upcoming District Trainings.

----------------------------  

Monthly Newsletter: 

Check your inbox! On the second 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.
---------------------------- 

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.   

The preliminary chronic absenteeism results for the 2025-2026 school year that were in the Embargoed Data folder on SharePoint have been removed while the Tennessee Department of Education reviews an appeal. The chronic absenteeism results will be reposted after the Tennessee Department of Education review. 

The fall ACT testing window for seniors opens Tuesday, September 29. The final day of the fall ACT testing window for seniors is November 6. 

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.