The Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) requires that teachers in the state of Tennessee demonstrate knowledge of foundational literacy skills instruction. The law outlines both training and licensure requirements. 

Training Requirements: Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, all current teachers in Tennessee with a TLSA qualifying endorsement (listed here) must complete a foundational literacy skills training course. To satisfy this requirement, educators can complete Course 1 of either the Early Reading Training or Secondary Literacy Training. 

Licensure Requirements: Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, candidates seeking to obtain, renew, or advance a teaching license with at least one qualifying endorsement (listed here) must demonstrate compliance with TLSA requirements when submitting licensure transactions. Educators may elect to demonstrate compliance using one of the below pathways. The trainings and assessment are free. Educators who do not complete this requirement will not be able to renew or advance the license, and it will become inactive.

• Foundational Literacy Skills Training: Complete Course 1 of either the Early Reading Training or Secondary Literacy Training.  

OR 

• Assessment: Pass the Tennessee Early Literacy Assessment (TELA), which is now available online.  

The Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) requirement deadline is quickly approaching! All MSCS educators, school leaders, and district staff must meet this requirement deadline by March 31, 2024. 

If you have completed this requirement and submitted your certificate as requested, you may disregard this message.

Please upload your course completion certificate to TN Compass and to this MSCS form: https://forms.office.com/r/Gs1YWkcY1Q

Please note the step sheet detailing how to upload to TN Compass:

Steps to Upload the Literacy Success Act Certificate of Completion

f you have any questions, feel free to contact us at HRCompliance@scsk12.org.

We're hosting a special parent educational workshop crafted exclusively for our Spanish-speaking parents. Help spread the word and encourage them to join us for an empowering session covering key topics, including information about the Parent Welcome Center, PowerSchool, Truancy, ESL Classes for Adults, and more.

Details:

🗓️ Thursday, Dec. 14 

🕒 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. 

📍 McFarland Community Center

Parents can RSVP at faceresources@scsk12.org.

Want to learn more about writing instruction using Wonders and myPerspectives resources? Then join us for one of the vendor-led writing sessions in January. Learn more about the resources used in the Writing Plans! Deepen your knowledge around the many instructional writing materials and state writing test practice resources that support writing in our ELA classrooms. Click HERE to learn more and register today!

Wonders Writing sessions:

Session Title: Writing in the K-5 Wonders Curriculum (Elementary)

Date: Jan. 22 

Time: 4-5 PM

myPerspectives Writing sessions:

Session Title: Writing Opportunities in the myPerspectives Curriculum (Secondary/6-12) 

     (6-8)

• Date: Jan. 23 
• Time: 4-5 PM

    (9-12)

• Date: Jan 25
• Time: 3:30-4:30 PM

Questions? Email ci_ela_team@scsk12.org

According to the 12-month hourly work schedule, Specialized Education Assistants (SEAs) are scheduled to work three days (Dec. 21 and Jan. 2-3) during Winter Break unless days off have been requested and approved by school administration. 

SEAs are expected to report to their school sites each day and engage in either of the following: 

1. Complete professional learning assignments as outlined by the Early Literacy Department OR 
2. Complete tasks assigned by the school administrator 

Please carefully read the following information:

• If SEAs plan to be off during the Winter Break, they should follow the request-for-vacation policies as outlined by their school's administrative handbook. 
• If an SEA takes vacation, the SEA is not required to complete professional learning assignments on the days approved for vacation. 
• If an SEA is not taking vacation days and the SEA's school administrator has tasks for the SEA to complete, the SEA does not have to complete the Early Literacy professional learning assignments. In this case, it is the school's responsibility to capture and report the SEA's hours worked. 
• If the school administrator does not provide tasks for the SEA to complete during the three days of Winter Break, the SEA must complete the professional learning assignments for each day worked. 

Please see assignments here: SEA Winter Break Professional Learning SY23-24

Any questions regarding tasks or assignments, please call or email the Early Literacy Office at 901-416-4801 or EarlyLiteracyDept@scsk12.org. 

For technical/computer issues, please contact IT 901-416-2700. 

LOE Update

Level of Effectiveness (TEM) scores have been released and are visible in TNCompass for most educators. For an educator to receive an LOE score, all required component scores (depending on the evaluation type) must be present in TNCompass. Components include Observation, Achievement, Growth, Professionalism, and/or Student Perception Survey. 

Per the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), teacher LOEs from 2022-23 should be finalized and signed with a PIN by Friday, Dec. 15. Guidance on signing evaluations can be found HERE. It is also on the TEAM website under the TNCompass tab. ​

**Note: Educators identified as partial year exemption (PYE) will not receive an LOE score.   

LOE Not Available - ACT (Achievement) & CTE (Growth)

Per the TDOE, the final ACT (Achievement) and CTE (Growth) measure results from the state for the 2022-23 SY have not yet been released. The public release is projected to occur by mid-December. Educators who selected ACT as their Achievement measure and/or CT as their Growth measure will not have an LOE at this current time. Information regarding the calculations for 2022-23 teacher evaluations may be found HERE.  

For inquiries or assistance regarding missing scores or other evaluation-related questions, please submit a PLZ HelpDesk ticket so that the EPS can research the issue (link also available in PLZ under "PLZ Help"). 

MSCS employees can enjoy 40% off on select merchandise at the Nike Company Store from Nov. 19 - Dec. 31.

Please click HERE to learn more details and to view the terms and conditions.