September 28 |
Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conferences |
October 05 |
Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences |
October 09 |
Fall Break | No School |
October 10 |
Fall Break | No School |
October 11 |
Fall Break | No School |
October 12 |
Fall Break | No School |
August 1st, 2022
ESSER Health & Safety and Budget Plan Feedback
To review the CMCSS 2022-2023 In-Person Learning COVID-19 Overview and provide feedback, click here.
To review the CMCSS ESSER 3.0 Funds Allocation and provide feedback, click here.
July 21st, 2022
Family Guide to the Start of School (2022-23 School Year)
June 29th, 2022
A Family Guide to Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) 2022-2023
What is RTI²?
Response to instruction and intervention is the way CMCSS intervenes with students who are struggling academically by focusing on quality core instruction and intervention of specific skill deficits. The purpose of RTI² is to intervene with students quickly in the area of need so skill deficit gaps do not develop as they progress through school.
What does the RTI² Framework look like?
The RTI² Framework has three tiers; each tier provides intensifying levels of support.
- In Tier l, all students receive evidence-based, high-quality, general education standards-based instruction that incorporates ongoing universal screening and assessments to inform instruction. Tier I is another name for the regular core instruction all students get every year.
- In Tier ll, students identified as having significant skill deficits receive intervention targeted to the specific area of need. Student progress is consistently monitored during intervention and decisions about tier movement are based on progress monitoring data.
- In Tier III, more intensive interventions are provided to students who have not made significant progress in Tier II, or who demonstrate a deficit significant enough to warrant immediate Tier III intervention. Students are monitored closely to determine if the intervention is effective. Movement from Tier III is dependent upon intervention success.
Tier II and III intervention occur in addition to regular classroom instruction. Schools will communicate with parents in writing when students go into and out of intervention, as well as update progress during intervention.
What are the key components of RTI²?
RTI² has been around for many years and is proven to improve instruction for all students by identifying areas for improvement in core instruction.
Schools assess all students in the fall, winter, and spring using what is called a Universal Screener. This is a skills-based measure students are given to quickly check how they perform compared to grade-level expectations. Screeners are brief and measure math and reading proficiency, as well as social-emotional protective factors. School teams consider data from a variety of sources, including the screener, to determine the level of intervention most appropriate and the specific skill deficit.
Another key component of RTI² is progress monitoring. Progress monitoring is a way for teachers to take a snapshot of how children are doing on a specific skill. It includes formal and informal assessments. Progress monitoring helps determine whether an intervention is successful or needs to be changed. Data from this type of monitoring is shared with parents on a regular basis (every 4-5 weeks).
When progress monitoring indicates a student is not responding to the intervention at an acceptable rate (gap closure is not occurring at a reasonable rate), another approach or intervention may be implemented. If a higher level of support is needed, students may be provided more intensive intervention that further focuses on the supporting skills they need to be successful learners (Tier lll). Students who do not respond to Tier III interventions may be referred for a special education evaluation.
What if I think my child needs special education?
If at any time parents/guardians become concerned that their child needs special education services, they should contact their child’s teacher or administrator. Other forms of evaluation, in addition to information gathered through the RTI² framework, are needed to determine if a student is eligible for special education services. A parent’s written consent is required for these evaluations to be conducted.
Additional information about RTI² implementation will be provided by each school.
A SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING SCREENING AND CONTINUED INTERVENTION
If your student was recommended to continue participation in tiered intervention in the spring, that intervention will be continued this fall. The district will begin administering fall universal screening measures to gauge student progress and make instructional plans to meet the needs of all students as soon as students return to school. Data from the fall universal screening will be used in conjunction with previous screening, progress monitoring, and curriculum-based data to determine the need for continued intervention, tier level, and pinpoint specific deficits. After universal screening measures are administered, parents/guardians will be provided information if the continued or initial placement of their student(s) in tiered intervention is recommended. All data will be treated as continuous (i.e., the summer break does not necessitate a ‘restart’ on data collection and/or delay progression toward referral) and data teams will meet frequently and consistently to review student progress and make informed decisions.
TENNESSEE LITERACY SUCCESS ACT AND THE CMCSS FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS PLAN
In compliance with the Tennessee Literacy Success Act, each district and public charter school must submit a Foundational Literacy Skills Plan. School districts and public charter schools must create a local Foundational Literacy Skills Plan for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and submit the final approved plan to the department for approval. The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System’s Foundational Literacy Skills Plan has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and may be found here.
We wish you and your student(s) a healthy, productive school year! Should you have any questions, please contact your school’s RTI2 lead or the district RTI2 data team at [email protected].
May 18th, 2022
TCAP Scores Not Included in Students’ Spring 2022 Grades
CMCSS will not include the TCAP state standardized test results as part of students’ final grades this school year. CMCSS updated the District grading policy in 2015 to align with T.C.A. § 49-1-617. District policy states that students’ TCAP scores will not be included in their final spring semester grades if the TCAP scores are not received by the District at least five instructional days before the end of the academic year. As CMCSS nears the end of the school year and finalizes student grades, the raw scores were not received within the last five instructional days and will not be included.
As a reminder, the last half day of school is Wednesday, May 25.
May 11th, 2022
Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder Selected as Next Director of Schools
On Tuesday, May 10, the School Board voted to select Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder as the next Director of Schools. Dr. Luna-Vedder currently serves as the Chief of Student Readiness for the Tennessee Department of Education. She has been a resident of Clarksville-Montgomery County since 2007, and previously served in CMCSS as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and Director of High Schools. The Board will begin contract negotiations, and Dr. Luna-Vedder is expected to begin as the CMCSS Director of Schools in July.
For more information on Dr. Luna-Vedder from her application packet, click here.
May 9th, 2022
Operational Updates for the 2022-2023 School Year
CMCSS is reaching out with two operational updates for the 2022-2023 school year. Please note these changes will not take effect until next school year. We want to provide families with as much advance notice as possible.
End of USDA Waiver and No-Cost Meals
The USDA has not indicated that they will be extending the waiver for school districts to continue offering no-cost student meals for the 2022-2023 school year. For the past two school years, CMCSS has been able to provide breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to students each school day because of the USDA’s waivers.
At this time, unless CMCSS receives notification otherwise from the USDA, the district will be required to return to its normal meal payment methods in August. Families will continue to be highly encouraged to preload funds on a student’s online account. More information will be communicated before next school year, but below are the meal prices:
Elementary Student Meal Prices
Breakfast (Full Pay): $1.00
Breakfast (Reduced): $0.30
Lunch (Full Pay): $2.65
Lunch (Reduced): $0.40
Secondary Student Meal Prices
Breakfast (Full Pay): $1.15
Breakfast (Reduced): $0.30
Lunch (Full Pay): $2.85
Lunch (Reduced): $0.40
It will be extremely important that all families who believe their children qualify for free or reduced meals complete the application for the 2022-2023 school year. CMCSS will provide more information on the application over the summer and at the beginning of next school year. Applications for next school year cannot be completed until later in July. Applications must be submitted and approved each school year for a student to receive benefits.
Transportation Parent Responsibility Zone
In an effort to improve transportation services while facing the ongoing local, state, and national bus driver shortage, CMCSS is updating its transportation routes and qualifications for the 2022-2023 school year.
State law establishes that school districts may provide school transportation for children who live more than 1 ½ miles from their zoned school. CMCSS has exceeded the expectations of the state law to provide transportation to elementary students who live more than half a mile (.5) from their zoned school and middle and high school students who live more than a mile (1) from their zoned school.
Effective the 2022-2023 school year, CMCSS will be expanding the radius of the parent responsibility zone (PRZ), the area in which families are responsible for providing transportation (car rider, walker, etc.), by half a mile for both elementary and secondary students to:
- 1 mile for elementary students
- 1 ½ miles for middle and high school students
Exceptions:
For student safety, transportation will still be provided for students who live in the PRZ under the following travel conditions:
- 4 or more lanes of traffic without a crossing guard
- Roads with insufficient road width (less than 24 ft.) with speeds above 35 mph
- Roads with no sidewalks with speeds above 35 mph
Notes:
- This change will not impact students who receive Special Populations transportation services as indicated in their IEPs.
- Any future development within the PRZ that has accessible safe travel paths may not be eligible for CMCSS transportation.
- If a daycare is in the PRZ, CMCSS will not provide transportation.
The Transportation Department will be directly contacting families who have students in the 1/2 mile expanded zone. Click here for more information and interactive maps of the PRZ for each school.
April 4th, 2022
Open Enrollment for 2022-2023 School Year
CMCSS is offering Open Enrollment in specific schools and grade levels with available capacity for the 2022-2023 school year. The Open Enrollment application period will be April 18-May 18, 2022. Due to the comprehensive rezoning that changed capacities at some schools, the District had to delay the determination of open seats for Open Enrollment until spring 2022. The Open Enrollment process is separate from the application period for schools and programs of choice that took place January-February 2022.
Space for Open Enrollment is limited to only the specific schools and grades listed below. Each grade listed has a limited number of available seats. If more requests are received than available seats, a lottery drawing will be held.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
School | Kindergarten | 2nd grade | 4th grade | 5th grade |
Byrns Darden Elementary | 20 seats | |||
Carmel Elementary | 10 seats | 10 seats | 20 seats | 20 seats |
Cumberland Heights Elementary | 5 seats | |||
East Montgomery Elementary | 20 seats | |||
Kenwood Elementary | 18 seats | |||
Minglewood Elementary | 40 seats | 15 seats |
MIDDLE SCHOOL
School | 6th grade | 8th grade |
Kirkwood Middle | 15 seats | |
Richview Middle | 15 seats | 15 seats |
*Note: a previous version of this chart indicated Richview had 15 seats in 7th. This error has been corrected above.
HIGH SCHOOL
School | 9th grade | 10th grade | 11th grade | 12th grade |
Kenwood High | 10 seats | 10 seats | 10 seats | 10 seats |
Montgomery Central High | 10 seats | 20 seats |
*For high school students, parents/guardians and students will need to consult with a school counselor to ensure the open enrollment transfer would not affect a student’s graduation track.
Application Form
Click here for the 2022-2023 Open Enrollment Request Application.
For more information on CMCSS’ Open Enrollment policy, click here.
Note on Virtual School: If families are interested in CMCSS K-12 Virtual for the 2022-2023 school year, there will be additional enrollment periods from April 1-30, 2022, and July 1-22, 2022. Please contact K-12 Virtual Enrollment Specialist Ashley Pledger at 931-553-1117 or [email protected] to learn more about CMCSS K-12 Virtual School enrollment.
February 23rd, 2022
Rezoning Plan Approved
Good evening, CMCSS families,
At tonight’s special called voting session, the School Board voted to approve the final rezoning plan for middle schools effective the 2022-2023 school year and high schools effective the 2023-2024 school year. No elementary boundaries are affected by this rezoning.
This vote included the following rezoning phase-in plan:
Middle School Students in Rezoned Areas
Allow a choice for all currently enrolled 6th- and 7th-grade students to attend either their currently assigned middle school or their newly assigned middle school in 2022-2023. Transportation must be provided by the family if they opt out of rezoning to stay at their currently enrolled school. This choice will only apply for the student’s middle school attendance. Once the student reaches high school, he or she will be expected to attend their zoned high school.
High School Students in Rezoned Areas
Allow a choice for all currently enrolled 8th-, 9th- and 10th-grade students to attend either their currently assigned high school or their newly assigned high school in 2023-2024. If they opt out of rezoning to stay at their currently assigned school, transportation must be provided by the family or the student if he/she is able to drive.
Parents/guardians of currently enrolled 6th- and 7th-grade students who live in rezoned areas will receive an electronic rezoning opt-out form via text and/or email on Thursday, February 24. If you have any issues with the electronic form or do not receive one, please contact your child’s school beginning Friday, February 25.
Parents/guardians of currently enrolled 8th-, 9th- and 10th-grade students who live in rezoned areas will receive an electronic rezoning opt-out form next school year in advance of the 2023-2024 school year when high school rezoning takes effect.
April 18, 2022 Update
The deadline to request an opt-out to rezoning has passed. Families who did not submit their request must now request a Special Transfer (application found here) or fill out the Open Enrollment Application, if their student meets the school and grade requirements found here.
February 1st, 2022
Family Life Curriculum Development Process Public Meetings
As communicated last semester, effective 2021-2022, all school systems in Tennessee are required to implement a program of family life education (T.C.A. 49-6-1302). In the fall, CMCSS sought feedback from teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders on three proposed Family Life Curriculum resources that could be used by educators to teach the required components. After reviewing feedback with the CMCSS School Board, District leaders paused the process to seek additional guidance from the Tennessee Department of Education, legal counsel, and other districts across Tennessee.
CMCSS is inviting all stakeholders to engage in the Family Life Curriculum development process by participating in one of the upcoming public meetings. At the meetings, District personnel will engage with stakeholders to address the following questions:
- What materials or textbooks will be used to develop the CMCSS curriculum?
- How will teachers and students access the curriculum?
- What is required to be taught?
Meetings:
- Tuesday, February 15
- 10 a.m. at Central Services South – 1312 Highway 48/13, Clarksville, TN 37040
- 5:30 p.m. at West Creek High School – 1210 West Creek Coyote Trail, Clarksville, TN 37042 (enter at the cafeteria/activities entrance)
- Thursday, February 17
- 5:30 p.m. at Central Services South – 1312 Highway 48/13, Clarksville, TN 37040
If you have any questions or input, please use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FamLifeEd
January 12th, 2022
Accessing Student Report Cards – January 2022
CMCSS student report cards for the second nine weeks of the 2021-22 school year will be available on Wednesday, January 12. Parents/guardians will access report cards online using the CMCSS Parent Self-Service webpage at parents.cmcss.net.
If parents/guardians have issues accessing their child’s report card using CMCSS Parent Self-Service, they can contact their child’s enrolled school.
The report card available through Parent Self-Service is considered the official report card with comments for the grading period.
Parents/guardians can check their student’s academic progress on PowerSchool at any time. PowerSchool is the official grade book and attendance tracker for CMCSS. While some digital learning platforms have a grade book, please note that official grades will only be recorded in PowerSchool.
CREATING A POWERSCHOOL ACCOUNT
If you need to create a PowerSchool account, visit powerschool.cmcss.net, click the Create Account tab, and complete the form.
Families will need an Access Code for each child. Access codes can be obtained through the parents.cmcss.net portal by clicking on “Get Student Security Info” and following the steps listed in the video below.
PowerSchool Access Codes: https://ior.ad/7PBU
If you are using the PowerSchool app, the CMCSS’ District Code is P Z Q N.
UNDERSTANDING POWERSCHOOL AND REPORT CARD ABBREVIATIONS
Families may see several abbreviations in PowerSchool, including:
- N(#) ex. N1, N2, etc. This is the student’s current grade in the nine weeks.
- S(#) ex. S1, S2, etc. This is the student’s semester grade, which includes the nine weeks combined. For high school students, this grade will reflect the semester credits earned for that period. This grade will also include mid-term exams when applicable.
- Y(#) ex. Y1. This refers to the student’s cumulative grade for the year.
- OT On-Track. Students in grades K – 5 may see this designation on their report cards.
- AE Approaching Expectations. Students in grades K – 5 may see this designation on their report cards.
- BE Below Expectations. Students in grades K – 5 may see this designation on their report cards.
Watch this video to understand the PowerSchool dashboard:
K-2 Standards-Based Iorad: https://ior.ad/7MKm
3-12 Traditional Grading Iorad: https://ior.ad/7O3p
Note: Students in grades 3 – 5 may be assigned a letter grade and have letter grades available through PowerSchool. Report cards may also display the OT, AE, or BE information under College and Career Readiness.
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