As we move through the current athletic season, it is important to reaffirm our collective commitment to the values that define educational athletics — sportsmanship, respect, and integrity. These principles are central to the mission of interscholastic sports and essential to fostering a positive and safe environment for all participants.  

Examples of Infractions:

• Head coaches and/or assistant coaches ejected from contests with security escorts for derogatory language
• Players leaving the bench area to join altercations happening on the floor
• Players being ejected for unsportsmanlike behavior ex. fighting, derogatory language, etc.
• Spectators entering the court/field of play without prior approval from the game administrator
• Administrators/Coaches confronting officials during a contest at inappropriate times and/or communicating in an unprofessional manner

Such actions undermine the purpose of our programs and set a poor example for our student-athletes. Penalties include but are not limited to a $250 fine (minimum), game suspensions, forfeits and program probations. 

To ensure sportsmanship standards are upheld, here is a brief video explaining TSSAA Unsportsmanlike Conduct Rules  to support you in establishing the following practices:

• Identify situations that may lead to unsportsmanlike conduct and clearly communicate expectations for appropriate behavior.
• All staff, athletes, and fans should understand that respect for officials, opponents, and one another is non-negotiable
• Incidents of misconduct are addressed immediately and reported through the proper channels
• Each school continues to promote positive sportsmanship as a central part of its athletic culture
• Work proactively with opposing schools to plan for and mitigate risks at high-conflict events.

Let us continue to provide our student-athletes with experiences that emphasize character, teamwork, and responsibility. Thank you for your leadership, attention to compliance, and commitment to maintaining the integrity of education-based athletics.

Thank you for your cooperation.

RTI2-B/S.E.L. Department 

As part of MSCS' continued district-wide RTI2-B implementation, please ensure that your school's RTI2-B Monthly Meeting Minutes are completed and submitted by the last Friday of each month. 

Meeting minutes should clearly document your school's team participation, data reviewed, student interventions/supports, decisions made, and next steps. Consistent documentation helps us monitor implementation and provide appropriate support to schools. 

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment as we work together to decrease suspensions, increase attendance, and strengthen school culture and climate. The submission link for the RTI2-B Monthly Meetings is below.

If you need additional assistance, please contact RTI2-B Advisors: Michael Spearman (spearmanmt@scsk12.org) 901-416-0608 (desk) or Clarence Shaw (shawcj@scsk12.org) 901-416-4173.

Click HERE to access the MSCS Leadership Launchpad. 

Click HERE to access the RTI2-B Monthly Meeting Minutes Template.

Attached is the 2026-2027 Section 504 Advisor and Associate Representative list identifying the district representative(s) assigned to support each school.

Please review the attachment and ensure that the appropriate members of your school team are familiar with their assigned Section 504 Advisor and/or Associate.

Our Section 504 team is available to provide guidance and support related to Section 504 processes, compliance, implementation, and school-based questions.

We encourage schools to maintain ongoing communication with their assigned representative and to reach out when assistance or clarification is needed.

 Section 504  Department — District Region Advisors & Associates 2026-27

The first 7 Mindsets Insights Measurement Window opened October 19, 2026, and will close November 5, 2026. Insights provides schools with valuable information to better understand student social-emotional strengths and areas where additional support may be needed.

Measurement Window: October 19, 2026 – November 5, 2026

Student Access
Students will access Insights by selecting the 7 Mindsets app from their Clever dashboard. Students in grades 6-12 may see a home screen and should select “Start Measurement.”

Students will then confirm their identity, select English or Spanish, complete a brief audio check, and begin the measurement. Headphones are required. Students may pause and resume as needed, and progress will save automatically.

Estimated Completion Times

• K-3: 30-35 minutes
• Grades 4-5: approximately 40 minutes
• Grades 6-8: approximately 30 minutes
• Grades 9-12: approximately 15 minutes

Important K-3 Note: During the shape-matching activity, students may experience a brief intentional delay. This is part of the measurement and is designed to assess self-control and frustration tolerance. If students ask about the delay, please encourage them by simply saying, “Keep going and do your best.”

Helpful Resources:
How to Monitor Completion Progress
Proctoring Tip Sheets – Clever

Questions? Please contact S.E.L Advisors Chumeka Wayne (waynec@scsk12.org) 901-416-0348 or Aunia Cole (coleal@scsk12.org) 901-416-0601.

Enrollment Procedures and Reminders

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

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:

• Warning Letter Requirement & Due Date: Before revoking a transfer due to attendance, academic performance, or behavior, principals must issue a written warning letter to parents/guardians.
• All warning letters must be sent out if not already done so. Please ensure all required warning letters are issued by Friday, October 30.
• Semester-End Rescissions: Transfer rescissions will only take effect at the end of a semester.
• 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.

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.
• Parent Contact Guidance Flyer

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 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.
•  Student Absence Form Flyer

"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

ADVISORY: Over-Age for Grade (OAG) Student Placement Meetings

• For students who have been out of school for multiple years, an Over-Age for Grade (OAG) placement meeting must take place to determine appropriate grade placement and academic next steps.
• School leadership and principals will be notified in advance whenever a meeting is scheduled for a student at their site.
• For questions or further guidance, please contact the Office of Enrollment, Attendance, and Truancy at 901-416-2989. Thank you for your continued support!

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 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 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. 

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