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 Course Code Assignments  

Please ensure that all ESL students are correctly assigned ESL course codes 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   

Q1 Retention Prevention 

Retention Prevention documentation for Multilingual Learners who have been assigned a failing grade are required to be uploaded to ELLevation. Required documentation of parent communication, completed Monitoring Forms and three annotated student work samples that clearly demonstrate the accommodations provided and scaffolded instructional supports implemented. Evidence/work samples were due October 9.

As a reminder, for Multilingual Learners to be successful, ESL teachers must regularly collaborate with their students' content and general education teachers to monitor their academic progress.  

9-12 ML ASAP ESL Data Meetings 

All high schools are encouraged to hold quarterly ESL data meetings in support of the ML Academic Success Assurance Protocol (ML ASAP). Recommended participants include the ESL Teacher(s), PLC Coach and/or Instructional Facilitator, and Content Area Leads. Counselors and Administrators are encouraged to participate as well. The Q2 ESL Data Meeting Template can be found ​​here.​​ For questions, contact your ESL Advisor. 

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  

Nov. 4 - Using Data: Monitor, Respond, Accelerate, 4-5:30 p.m. @ Office of Multilingual Learners  

Nov. 16 - Dec. 4: ELLevation Benchmark Window 

The iReady Projected Proficiency Report can be used by leaders, teachers, and school staff following the completion of iReady Inform.  Check out the video below when you are logged in to your iReady account to learn more about using the report within iReady. Note: You must be logged in to iReady to view the video. There are additional resources available in iReady Success Central on this topic.

Link:  https://login.i-ready.com/central/Search?resource=7e788761-9fd5-48c5-a85d-fcd40b250a0b

Please review this week's MTSS Lead Updates.  Remember to finish out the month strong and remain “On Target for Success” by being intentional with intervention and monitoring.

Please join us for these mathematics professional learning opportunities. The sessions focus on monitoring mathematical practices, preparing high-quality lessons with the Instructional Focus Documents, and collecting evidence of student thinking.

The linked flyer has the dates, times, course numbers and locations, plus the Teams link for the virtual session.

We hope to see you there! For any questions, please contact Antronette C. Brown at brownac@scsk12.org.

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.

We are excited to participate in this year's Do the Write Thing (DtWT) writing program. DtWT is a writing competition where middle school students share how violence has impacted them and propose solutions. 

We are excited about this year's challenge and look forward to the submission of essays, poems, songs, plays and more! We are looking for submissions from every middle school this year.

Our students will have the opportunity to submit to the local competition and the winning essay will advance to the and national competition in Washington, D.C. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students' talent and there is no limit on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/26) 

Middle School teachers are asked to sign-up here: Do the Write Thing 2027 – Fill out form.

• Any form of written expression (e.g. essays, poems, plays, songs)
• Must address the following questions:
  • How has violence affected my life?
  • What are the causes of youth violence?
  • What can I do to reduce youth violence?
• Positive and non-derogatory language
• Fictional writings must be identified as such
• Strong preference will be given to non-fiction writings
• Credit must be given to outside sources
• Writings based upon plagiarism will not be considered

Completed packets may be sent to our office via MSCS Board Mail. Please be sure to include a summary page with the packet noting the contact person for your school and the number of submissions. Also, each submission should contain its own cover sheet with the parent/guardian's signature.

In addition to information on https://www.dtwt.org/, please review the MSCS Do the Write Thing Resources Folder.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster at lusterey@scsk12.org.

We’re encouraging all elementary and middle schools to host a school-level Spelling Bee and give students the chance to showcase their spelling skills and confidence on stage.

This year’s MSCS Spelling Bee will highlight our spectacular spellers in grades 3-8. But first, they’ll need to win your school’s spelling bee by Friday, December 11, 2026. Now is the time to identify your Spelling Bee Coordinator and plan for e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-c-e.

If you have questions about how to get started, sign up here: Spelling Bee Intent to Participate 2026-27 – Fill out form.

For more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, visit spellingbee.com/enrollment to learn more and register your school. Participation in the Scripps Bee is NOT required for participation in the MSCS Spelling Bee.

Thank you for all you do to create meaningful learning opportunities for our students and for helping them build confidence through friendly academic competition!

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster at lusterey@scsk12.org.

On October 26, a list of students who need to test during the upcoming Fall End-of-Course testing window was emailed to Building Testing Coordinators. The Fall End-of-Course window is November 30 through December 17. 

Please note that guidance for who needs to test has changed this year. In general, even if a student has taken the EOC test before, the student still needs to take the test if they are currently enrolled in the course and will complete the course during the current semester. The only exception is a student in an official credit recovery ("CR") course who has already taken the EOC test.

Growth & Achievement containers will reopen for educators who transferred schools or were hired after the containers closed on Tuesday, November 3. The containers will close Friday, November 20. 

Educators who did not make G & A selections during the initial window may also make selections during this time.   

If you have questions, please contact Employee Performance and Support at 901-416-2475 or email eps@scsk12.org.

All portfolio educators should log in to TeachAll and select collections by Friday, December 4, using their state single sign on. Educators may reach out to their Content Advisor or the District Portfolio Lead, Floresha Smith, to receive their State SSO. 

All point A assessments should be completed/not uploaded for all students by Friday, December 4, to support purposeful sampling. 

Questions or concerns? Email eps@scsk12.org.

The deadline to complete NIE Goal Setting Conferences has been extended to November 6, 2026.

IMPORTANT: NIE Employees must select their evaluator first in PLZ, in order for the evaluator to have access to their NIE plan. In addition, the evaluator must be NIE Certified.

Questions? Contact EPS@scsk12.org

Advancing Professional Practice Through Evidence and Reflection School leaders, please encourage teachers familiar with the Professionalism Rubric to attend this PD opportunity. Participants will deepen their understanding by analyzing evidence, reflecting on professional practice, and using the rubric to support continuous professional growth. 

WHEN: Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 4-5 p.m. 

Register in PLZ: Course# 50664 

Questions? Contact ESP@scsk12.org

The Fall Student Perception Survey will be administered October 26 – November 6, 2026. The District’s goal is to achieve 95% or more completion among eligible students and teachers. Please work with your Survey Site Coordinator to ensure students have the time, technology, and support needed to complete the survey. 

For questions, please contact the Employee Performance and Support Office at 901-416-2475 or eps@scsk12.org, or reach out to LaToya Rogers at rogersld@scsk12.org.

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) will release 2025–26 Educator Level of Overall Effectiveness (LOE) scores in TNCompass in the coming days.

To receive an LOE score, all required evaluation component scores must be available in TNCompass. The required components may include:

• Observation
• Achievement
• Growth
• Professionalism
• Student Perception Survey

Please note: Educators designated in TNCompass as a Partial Year Exemption (PYE)are not eligible to receive an LOE score and will not have an LOE displayed in TNCompass.

If you have questions about missing component scores or other evaluation-related concerns, please submit an Ivanti ticket. The Employee Performance & Support (EPS) team will review and research the issue.

Attention Principals and School Leadership Teams! Please take immediate note of a date adjustment for our upcoming November Principals' Leadership Development Week (LDW) session:

• 🗓️ PREVIOUS DATE: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
• ⚡ NEW DATE: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Action Required: Please update your personal calendars, administrative outlooks, and campus scheduling plans immediately to reflect this change.

📌 Note: All other scheduled LDW session dates for the month of November remain unchanged.

Thank you for your flexibility as we align our leadership development calendar!

Performance and Leadership Development Department

Attention Current Leaders, Aspiring Administrators, and School Leadership Teams! The Department of Professional Learning & Development is bringing you two high-impact, high-leverage Leadership Labs this November. Grounded in our proven Present • Model • Practice • Execute framework, these sessions are designed to deliver immediate, actionable moves to transform your school site.

Check out the November lineup and secure your spot in PLZ today!

LAB 1: Mastering Actionable Feedback with "See It, Name It, Do It"

🗓️ Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026

🎙️ Facilitator: Wil Redmond (Manager, Academic Leadership Support)

🎟️ PLZ Registration Code: 93237

• The Breakthrough: Move beyond generic feedback and master surgical coaching. Learn how to observe classroom instruction, pinpoint the exact instructional gap, and deliver precise, modeled feedback that drives immediate teacher growth.
• The Experience: See the protocol modeled live with real classroom video, role-play real-time feedback conversations in pairs, and leave equipped with a clear implementation protocol to execute with your teaching staff.

LAB 2: The Power of School Brand & Strategic Enrollment Leadership

🗓️ Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026

🎙️ Facilitators: Dr. Daniel L. Jack (Director) & Zonja Glover (Principal)

🎟️ PLZ Registration Code: 93238

• The Breakthrough: Take control of your school's narrative! Discover how to define your campus's Unique Value Proposition, leverage data-driven storytelling, and build an authentic marketing strategy that attracts families, engages the community, and expands enrollment.
• The Experience: Analyze real-world success stories across social media and community outreach, draft your school's unique brand messaging in collaborative workshop pairs, and construct a targeted two-paragraph narrative ready to share directly with your school leadership team.

⚡ Seats are limited. Log in to PLZ and register with codes 93237 and 93238 now! Let’s keep building capacity together!

Daniel L. Jack, Ed.D.

Performance and Leadership Development 

The districtwide Digital Citizenship completion window has been extended through Friday, November 13, 2026, providing schools with additional time to ensure students complete all required modules.

Our district goal remains 93% student completion, and the current completion rate is 56.5%. All K-12 schools are expected to participate and continue monitoring student progress toward completion.

Please review the ​MSCS Digital Citizenship 2026​ for teacher roles, student access steps, and grade-band course information. Students are expected to complete all assigned lessons and activities through Canvas according to their grade band. The Digital Citizenship program is designed to help students develop safe, responsible, and effective online learning practices, including media literacy, digital safety and security, appropriate online behavior, responsible use of AI, and online community engagement.

Schools may schedule the Canvas lessons at a time that works best for their instructional program and use the Digital Citizenship Completion Report to monitor student progress and identify students who still need to complete the course. 

Why completion matters: Students who do not complete the Digital Citizenship course may miss important instruction related to online safety, cybersecurity awareness, responsible technology use, media literacy, and digital learning expectations. These lessons help prepare students to participate safely and effectively in digital learning environments and support the district's Remote Learning Readiness initiatives.

eRate Implications: Digital Citizenship supports the district's efforts to promote safe, responsible technology use and reinforces internet safety expectations associated with educational technology programs. Consistent student participation helps demonstrate the district's commitment to digital learning readiness and digital safety.

Thank you for your partnership and support.

As grades are finalized, please ensure students receive the required additional percentage points applicable to their advanced courses, whether applied automatically or manually. The Q1 Report Card Checklist clarifies this process.

The Advanced Academics team will run a gradebook audit report during the week of November 2, 2026. Principals will receive reports with specific next steps for addressing any teachers identified as out of compliance. All corrections and reconciliation must be completed by November 20, 2026.

For questions, please contact:

• Dr. Emily Barbee: barbeeeb@scsk12.org
• Kelly King: kingkr@scsk12.org
• Terriny Lloyd: lloydtk@scsk12.org

Honors Course Reconciliation - Due November 6, 2026

Please submit your school's honors course reconciliation spreadsheet documenting the reasons that eligible students were not enrolled in honors classes by Friday, November 6, 2026. Honors course eligibility is delineated in MSCS Policy 5005 on Advanced Academics and is part of the SEM Advancement Act that is included in state law. Documentation is required from every school for state reporting purposes. Honors course reconciliation spreadsheets were provided to counselors in August. Please note that this is a documentation request; schools are not being asked to change students' schedules now. 

Empowering Your Data Story: The DAIM Team wants to encourage greater Power BI and MSCS Compass use in District-managed schools. As part of our usage campaign, schools with the highest usage receive recognition monthly. Click here to see the flier for more information. You can also see pictures of recipients, with their awards, on our Hall of Fame page.

September School Winners

• Top School Overall: J.P. Freeman School
• Top Elementary School: Delano Elementary
• Top High School: Manassas High

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Highlighted Reports:

Grades for Q1 will be available in the Student Grades dashboard on October 29. Grades data is available the day after Report Cards are released. For more information on what you can find in the Student Grades dashboard, click here.

The District 360: All Data report is being updated to allow for filtering by Historically Underserved Student Groups. In addition to gender and race/ethnicity breakdowns, this includes English Learner, Direct Certified, Economically Disadvantaged, and Students with Disabilities. The update should reflect on November 6. For more information on the District 360: All Data report, click here.

The Feeder Pattern dashboard is being updated with new Loss/Gain data for the 2026-2027 school year. This includes students attending schools that are not their home/zoned school. Updated data will be available on October 29. For more information about the Feeder Pattern dashboard, click here.
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Upcoming Training Sessions: 

• Virtual Office Hours for the week of November 3 and 5 will be Open Office Hours Q&A sessions. We will answer any questions you may have.
• 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.

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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.
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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.   

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

Coordinated School Health

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. Principal Screening Calendar Semester 1 26-27.pdf

If you have any questions regarding the schedule or the screening process, please contact the Health Promotions Department at 901-416-6432.

Medication Training

Please review the Medication Administration Training for 2026-2027. MedicationTraining.pdf

School Care and Immunization Training

Please review the School Care and Immunization Training Flyer. SchoolCareImmunizationTraining.pdf

Healthy Teams

Please review Healthy Teams for 2026-2027. HealthyTeams.pdf

District-Approved Medical Service Vendors

Please review the list of approved vendors. DistrictApprovedMedicalServiceVendors.pdf

Assigned School Nurse Absence

Please review the information regarding assigned school nurses' absence. Nursing.pdf

2026-2027 Bed Bugs Toolkit BedBugsToolkit.pdf

2026-2027 Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) Toolkit HFMDToolkit.pdf

2026-2027 Head Lice Toolkit LiceToolkit.pdf

Please review the proper procedures for completing the Medical Emergency Log, which must be completed and submitted by the last school day of each month.

Medical Emergency Based Logs Instructions.pdf

Operation Warm Hearts Coat Requests: Do you need coats and other winter clothing for your students? If so, please complete the survey linked below to provide information about your students’ needs by Friday, November 6, 2026. 

Each school is asked to designate one person to serve as the coordinator for this effort. That person will be responsible for providing size information for up to 10 students and picking items up on the day of distribution in December.  Requests will be filled based on availability, and an MSCS FACE team member will contact the coordinator to confirm a pick-up time for each school. 

Link to Submit Coat Requests: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OWH26

If you have any questions, please contact Sonja Chambers, CHAMBERSS@scsk12.org.

Principals 

Below is the revised Fire Evacuation Drill Deadlines that everyone should follow because of the New State of Tennessee Law for this school year.

We are complying 100% so far this school year.

Thank you for your continued excellent leadership and support ensuring the safety of our students and staff.

Under the revised interpretation of T.C.A. § 68-102-137, schools may conduct no more than one fire evacuation drill every 30 school days, except during the first 30 school days of the year, when two drills are required.

[1] T.C.A. § 68-102-137(b)(1)(A)(ii) requires two (2) fire drills during the first 30 school days, however there cannot be more than two drills during the first 30 school days.

[1] T.C.A. § 68-102-137(b)(1)(A)(i) requires that no more than one (1) fire drills occur during a 30-school day window, therefore multiple drills cannot be logged during the above windows:

This change will result in 6 total fire evacuation drills throughout the year. The Fire Evacuation drill deadlines will fall as follows below.  

The following circled dates mark the evacuation drill deadlines excluding student-out days and skipping August 24, 2026 when the district was closed for power outages) 

·       Fire Drills #1 & 2 - 30th Day: September 15, 2026 (2 drills required by this date to satisfy 2 drills in the 1st 30 school days)

·       Fire Drill #3 - 60th Day: November 4, 2026

·       Fire Drill #4 - 90th Day: January 8, 2027

·       Fire Drill #5 - 120th Day: February 23, 2027

·       Fire Drill #6 - 150th Day: April 15, 2027

 Click the Link for Calendar.