Harlandale submits Strong Foundations literacy framework to TEA, outlines rollout and parent engagement plan

Harlandale ISD staff presented the district’s Strong Foundations literacy instructional framework to the board and said the framework was submitted to the Texas Education Agency in December as required by the grant.

Roxanne Arcos, identified as the Strong Foundations grant manager, said the framework provides a district-wide guide for teaching reading and language arts built around a vision to “maximize literacy development within an equitable learning environment, empowering students to become resilient thinkers, confident readers, effective writers, and skillful communicators.”

The framework sets four belief statements tied to the grant’s research-based instructional strategies (referred to in the presentation as the “RBs”), including a focus on foundational skills, grade-level text exposure, building knowledge and vocabulary through diverse texts, and evidence-based reading, writing and speaking across texts. Arcos said the district has already trained teachers and administrators in RBs 1–2 and plans RBs 3–4 training in spring.

Miss Casey, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, told trustees the framework was developed by two committees composed of administrators, teachers and curriculum specialists and that stakeholders named in the framework include students, teachers, school and district leaders and families. The presenters emphasized that literacy instruction should be supported across subjects and that training is intended for teachers in all content areas.

Trustees asked about family engagement and practical parent supports. Arcos said the district plans a communication roll-out with parent information events in spring and ongoing mini-sessions in the following school year so families can learn how to support literacy at home with minimal disruption to caregivers’ schedules. Arcos said trainings will aim to create repeated “uh-huh” moments so parents and guardians understand what literacy instruction looks like in classrooms and how to assist.

Board members asked whether the framework will add new teacher duties. Miss Casey said the framework is intended to provide clarity, not added requirements; training is meant to help teachers better understand district expectations and align classroom instruction to the framework.

Trustees expressed appreciation for the framework’s clarity and cross-curricular approach. Staff said math will be the next content area to undergo a similar Strong Foundations planning process next year.