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 2025 Read for the Record Book is See Marcus Grow by Marcus Bridgewater, illustrated by Reggie Brown. 

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction has purchased a special, paperback edition of See Marcus Grow for our Pre-K through 2nd grade teachers for them to participate with their students on the campaign day – February 26, 2026. 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 to complete the form at https://bit.ly/25RFTRHOSTAPP by Friday, December 5, 2025. 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 Storytime.
• Invite parents and community leaders to participate in-person and/or serve as virtual guest readers on February 26, 2026.
• Encourage whole-school participation. We want every student to hear See Marcus Grow on February 26, 2026, even though the focus is on early literacy.
• Your school will receive a copy of See Marcus Grow for 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. 

Whether you are a new hire or an experienced English/Language Arts teacher, there are Fall ELA sessions suited just for you!  These PD offerings are available for K-5 Wonders ELA teachers. For additional information regarding the sessions or registration, please access the link below and or Course #49475 in PLZ.

https://bit.ly/4764tKw

Questions? Email OfficeofLiteracy@scsk12.org

Leaders,

We are excited to share an incredible opportunity for your 3rd-grade students!

Tenn Under 10, powered by PNC and hosted by the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), selects 10 Tennessee 3rd graders each year to serve as GELF Literacy Ambassadors and receive a $2,000 post-secondary education scholarship. Honorees will be featured in GELF’s marketing and communications throughout the year, including video production, social media, and press outreach.

Who Qualifies?

• Must be a Tennessee 3rd grader during the 2025–2026 school year
• Enrolled in a Tennessee public or charter school
• Has overcome an obstacle related to literacy development or access to literacy resources
• Exhibits the four key values of Tenn Under 10

Important Details:

• Nomination Deadline: January 19, 2026
• Schools and districts may submit multiple nominations
• Applications must be submitted online by the school or district

Nominate a Student: https://dhsgbbf.wufoo.com/forms/zcli2i51o8mj3b/

Learn More: Program Details

Thank you for helping us celebrate Tennessee’s youngest learners and their literacy journeys! Please share this opportunity with your teachers and encourage nominations.

Fall Professional Learning Course Offerings are now available. Fall 2025 Professional Learning Catalog.pdf

ILT Content Leads Save the Dates for Future 2025-26 ILT Support Sessions. All ILT Content Leads must attend the monthly ILT Support Sessions outlined in the flyer to be eligible to receive the semester stipend. 2025 26 ILT Support Session Dates w PLZ Codes 9.15.2025.pdf

DO THE WRITE THING WRITING CHALLENGE

Greetings, Middle School Principals.

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 salute our 2025 National Ambassador from Hamilton K-8 School and our finalists from:

• A. Maceo Walker Middle School
• Colonial Middle School
• Grandview Heights Middle School
• John P. Freeman Optional School
• Hamilton K-8 School
• Mt. Pisgah Middle School

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 cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/25)

• 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.

For more information about the local implementation of the national program, please contact:

Ernest Brooks, II

Associate Deputy District Attorney/Senior Policy Advisor

Office of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

201 Poplar Ave., 11th Floor Ernest.Brooks@scdag.com

(901) 222-1547 – Office

(901) 222-1300 – Main Office/Reception

(731) 293-4187

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

Greetings, Middle School Principals.

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 salute our 2025 National Ambassador from Hamilton K-8 School and our finalists from:

• A. Maceo Walker Middle School
• Colonial Middle School
• Grandview Heights Middle School
• John P. Freeman Optional School
• Hamilton K-8 School
• Mt. Pisgah Middle School

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 cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/25)

• 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.

For more information about the local implementation of the national program, please contact:

Ernest Brooks, II

Associate Deputy District Attorney/Senior Policy Advisor

Office of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

201 Poplar Ave., 11th Floor Ernest.Brooks@scdag.com

(901) 222-1547 – Office

(901) 222-1300 – Main Office/Reception

(731) 293-4187

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

Greetings, Middle School Principals.

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 salute our 2025 National Ambassador from Hamilton K-8 School and our finalists from:

• A. Maceo Walker Middle School
• Colonial Middle School
• Grandview Heights Middle School
• John P. Freeman Optional School
• Hamilton K-8 School
• Mt. Pisgah Middle School

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 cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/25)

• 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.

For more information about the local implementation of the national program, please contact:

Ernest Brooks, II

Associate Deputy District Attorney/Senior Policy Advisor

Office of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

201 Poplar Ave., 11th Floor Ernest.Brooks@scdag.com

(901) 222-1547 – Office

(901) 222-1300 – Main Office/Reception

(731) 293-4187

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

It’s that exciting time of year again ... Spelling Bee season! 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.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee offers excellent resources to help you get started, including word lists, study materials, and step-by-step guides for hosting your school Bee. You can learn more and register your school at spellingbee.com/enrollment. Please note that the registration deadline is in January, so now is a great time to sign up and plan your event.

Even if your school isn’t quite ready to participate in the official Scripps Bee this year, this is a perfect opportunity to begin practicing and building excitement for next year’s competition. The national Bee is open to students in elementary and middle grades.

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

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

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 salute our 2025 National Ambassador from Hamilton K-8 School and our finalists from:

• A. Maceo Walker Middle School
• Colonial Middle School
• Grandview Heights Middle School
• John P. Freeman Optional School
• Hamilton K-8 School
• Mt. Pisgah Middle School

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 cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/25)

• 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.

For more information about the local implementation of the national program, please contact:

Ernest Brooks, II

Associate Deputy District Attorney/Senior Policy Advisor

Office of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

201 Poplar Ave., 11th Floor Ernest.Brooks@scdag.com

(901) 222-1547 – Office

(901) 222-1300 – Main Office/Reception

(731) 293-4187

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

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 salute our 2025 National Ambassador from Hamilton K-8 School and our finalists from:

• A. Maceo Walker Middle School
• Colonial Middle School
• Grandview Heights Middle School
• John P. Freeman Optional School
• Hamilton K-8 School
• Mt. Pisgah Middle School

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 cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/25)

• 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.

For more information about the local implementation of the national program, please contact:

Ernest Brooks, II

Associate Deputy District Attorney/Senior Policy Advisor

Office of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

201 Poplar Ave., 11th Floor Ernest.Brooks@scdag.com

(901) 222-1547 – Office

(901) 222-1300 – Main Office/Reception

(731) 293-4187

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

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 salute our 2025 National Ambassador from Hamilton K-8 School and our finalists from:

• A. Maceo Walker Middle School
• Colonial Middle School
• Grandview Heights Middle School
• John P. Freeman Optional School
• Hamilton K-8 School
• Mt. Pisgah Middle School

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 cap on the number of submissions per school. Please share this information with your school teams to encourage participation.

Local Entry Information (Deadline: 12/15/25)

• 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.

For more information about the local implementation of the national program, please contact:

Ernest Brooks, II

Associate Deputy District Attorney/Senior Policy Advisor

Office of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

201 Poplar Ave., 11th Floor Ernest.Brooks@scdag.com

(901) 222-1547 – Office

(901) 222-1300 – Main Office/Reception

(731) 293-4187

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

The District Spelling Bee is back! 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.

The MSCS Spelling Bee will highlight our spectacular spellers in grades 1-8. But first, they’ll need to win your school’s spelling bee by Friday, January 23, 2025. 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, join us for a virtual meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 4:30p.m.

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!

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

Urgent Guidance on Student Enrollment and McKinney-Vento Compliance

Memphis is currently facing a critical shortage of affordable housing, resulting in increased homelessness and a rise in the number of transient families across our district. As schools continue to welcome new students, it is imperative that we uphold the rights of children and youth experiencing housing instability. In accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, all schools must immediately enroll students once a parent/guardian, caretaker, or youth discloses their current living situation, regardless of the availability of documentation. Schools and district staff are not permitted to request proof of homelessness, shared residence documents, or any other paperwork as a condition of enrollment for students experiencing homelessness.

Please ensure that all enrollment personnel have ready access to the Homeless Referral Forms and any other required enrollment or support forms related to McKinney-Vento services. Once a parent, guardian, caretaker, or youth completes these forms, they must be scanned and submitted promptly to the Office of Special Populations at jacksonc10@scsk12.org for review and to initiate any additional supports or services available to the family. Also, please remember the following:

• Unaccompanied youth and 18-year-old students may enroll without a parent, guardian, or caretaker.
• Kindergarten-aged youth may enroll after district and state deadlines.
• Homeless and unaccompanied youth may not be denied enrollment or withdrawn for lack of immunizations.

Your adherence to these guidelines ensures our compliance with federal law and, most importantly, guarantees that every child in Memphis-Shelby County Schools has immediate and uninterrupted access to education during this time of increased housing instability.

Homeless Student Referral Information

To ensure timely support, all McKinney-Vento referral forms have been uploaded to the Special Populations SharePoint. In order for services to be initiated, a completed referral must be submitted to our office. Once received, a team member will contact the parent or caretaker within 48–72 hours. Please use the SharePoint link below to access the referral forms.  

MSCS Displaced Referral Forms.pdf

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Karen Ball-Johnson <ballkf@scsk12.org> or Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

The District Spelling Bee is back! 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.

The MSCS Spelling Bee will highlight our spectacular spellers in grades 1-8. But first, they’ll need to win your school’s spelling bee by Friday, January 23, 2026. Now is the time to identify your Spelling Bee Coordinator and plan for e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-c-e.

Sign-Up Here: Spelling Bee Intent to Participate 2025-26

If you have questions about how to get started, join us for a virtual meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

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!

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

Urgent Guidance on Student Enrollment and McKinney-Vento Compliance

Memphis is currently facing a critical shortage of affordable housing, resulting in increased homelessness and a rise in the number of transient families across our district. As schools continue to welcome new students, it is imperative that we uphold the rights of children and youth experiencing housing instability. In accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, all schools must immediately enroll students once a parent/guardian, caretaker, or youth discloses their current living situation, regardless of the availability of documentation. Schools and district staff are not permitted to request proof of homelessness, shared residence documents, or any other paperwork as a condition of enrollment for students experiencing homelessness.

Please ensure that all enrollment personnel have ready access to the Homeless Referral Forms and any other required enrollment or support forms related to McKinney-Vento services. Once a parent, guardian, caretaker, or youth completes these forms, they must be scanned and submitted promptly to the Office of Special Populations at jacksonc10@scsk12.org for review and to initiate any additional supports or services available to the family. Also, please remember the following:

• Unaccompanied youth and 18-year-old students may enroll without a parent, guardian, or caretaker.
• Kindergarten-aged youth may enroll after district and state deadlines.
• Homeless and unaccompanied youth may not be denied enrollment or withdrawn for lack of immunizations.

Your adherence to these guidelines ensures our compliance with federal law and, most importantly, guarantees that every child in Memphis-Shelby County Schools has immediate and uninterrupted access to education during this time of increased housing instability.

Homeless Student Referral Information

To ensure timely support, all McKinney-Vento referral forms have been uploaded to the Special Populations SharePoint. In order for services to be initiated, a completed referral must be submitted to our office. Once received, a team member will contact the parent or caretaker within 48–72 hours. Please use the SharePoint link below to access the referral forms.  

MSCS Displaced Referral Forms.pdf

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Karen Ball-Johnson <ballkf@scsk12.org> or Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

The District Spelling Bee is back! 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.

The MSCS Spelling Bee will highlight our spectacular spellers in grades 1-8. But first, they’ll need to win your school’s spelling bee by Friday, January 23, 2026. Now is the time to identify your Spelling Bee Coordinator and plan for e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-c-e.

Sign-Up Here: Spelling Bee Intent to Participate 2025-26

If you have questions about how to get started, join us for a virtual meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

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!

Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Erin Y. Luster <lusterey@scsk12.org>.

The TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) will be introducing a one-time transfer rule for the next school year that allows high school and middle school student-athletes a single transfer to another school without losing eligibility, but only if the transfer is not for athletic reasons. 

This rule is designed to address the needs of students experiencing significant academic, social-emotional, environmental, or mental health challenges. There are exceptions, including cases where a coaching link exists between the new school and the former school within the past 12 months, or if the student is under disciplinary suspension at their former school.  The school the student is transferring from must verify that the move is not due to athletic or disciplinary reasons. 

Currently, the TSSAA is working on additional messaging and FAQs for schools to support this bylaw change.  The TSSAA's one-time transfer rule has been the subject of legislative debate, with lawmakers initially considering codifying the rule into state law, but the process has been paused until 2026. 

India Weaver, Athletics Director

weaveri@scsk12.org