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Harlandale ISD submits Strong Foundations literacy framework to TEA; district plans family outreach and math framework next year
Summary
District staff presented the Strong Foundations literacy instructional framework, which Harlandale submitted to the Texas Education Agency in December. The framework centers a vision statement, four research-based instructional strategies (RBs), teacher training already underway and planned family engagement during rollout.
Harlandale ISD staff presented the district's Strong Foundations literacy instructional framework to the Board of Trustees and said the framework was submitted to the Texas Education Agency in December.
Roxanne Arcos, Strong Foundations grant manager, summarized the framework's vision: "to maximize literacy development within an equitable learning environment, empowering students to become resilient thinkers, confident readers, effective writers, and skilled communicators equipped to achieve their future college and career goals." She told trustees the framework organizes expectations for curriculum, instructional strategies and assessment and is grounded in research-based instructional strategies known internally as the RBs.
Arcos said the district convened two committees—including district leaders, curriculum specialists, campus administrators and teachers—to develop the framework during the fall semester. The framework comprises four belief statements corresponding to the RBs: (1) explicit and systematic foundational skills instruction; (2) grade-level complex texts for all students; (3) knowledge and vocabulary development through diverse texts; and (4) evidence-based listening, reading, writing and speaking across texts.
District staff reported that teachers and administrators have already received training in RBs 1 and 2, with RBs 3 and 4 scheduled for spring. The district plans a communication and rollout strategy that will include parent information nights and short, targeted trainings so families understand classroom expectations and can support learning at home. Miss Casey, the district's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said the next curriculum framework to be developed under the Strong Foundations grant will be math and that work is planned for the coming school year.
Trustees asked about family engagement and whether the framework adds new requirements for teachers. Presenters said the framework is meant to clarify and align existing expectations rather than add extra instructional tasks; they emphasized training, cross-curricular application and supporting families with brief, practical guidance.
