Facts about Harvard Elementary Community Issues
Timeline of Events
2017 - 2023
TEA began rating Texas schools on an A-F scale in the 2017-18 school year.
Harvard Elementary School maintained an A rating for all six years, and is rated an A according to Texas Schools.
June 2023
The TEA replaces the democratically elected HISD school board with a board of managers
September 2023
TEA plans to release STAAR A-F grade results from 2022-23 school year testing but is sued by over 100 school districts due a revamp of the scoring system. HISD shared their own calculations based on materials received from TEA.
Harvard receives an A rating for the 2022-23 STAAR results, based on HISD’s internal calculations.
2023-24 School Year @ Harvard
The district mandated the use of the “NES Math” curriculum (Eureka Math) for all grade levels.
May 2024
HISD released a Defined Autonomy document outlining the specific autonomies granted to schools based on their contentious TEA ratings.
As a Level 3 Autonomy school, Harvard has complete control over its instructional delivery model. This includes the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, teacher SPOT observation forms tailored for IB, and the Demonstration of Learning (DOL), which are optional.
July 2024
At a leadership conference, Dr. C and Dr. Perez appeared as guests on a podcast, where Dr. C discussed advocating against district changes to preserve Harvard's autonomy.
October 7, 2024
Harvard’s Principal, Dr. Calabrese, was put on “administrative leave, pending investigation.” “Per Board Policy (DFBA Local), principals can be put on administrative leave by their direct supervisor or the Superintendent for poor performance, absenteeism, or misconduct. “
Per Ray Winkler, Lead Senior Executive Director:
Dr. C was not put on leave because she was fighting HISD or pushing back against HISD from making Harvard NES or NES curriculum being implemented.
No crime was committed that led to Dr. C being put on leave.
This is not because of HVAC complaints.
2024-25 School Year
TEA is once again blocked from releasing STAAR rating A-F grades due to lawsuits from school districts. HISD releases their own internal ratings based on materials received from TEA.
Harvard receives a B rating for the 2023-24 STAAR results, based on HISD’s internal calculations.
Amplify Science curriculum implemented at Harvard
Teachers have been told the the Amplify ELA Curriculum is coming
Demonstrations of Learning (DOLs) are required, including timers (as of early September 2024) in upper grades
These methods are expected to “trickle down” to the lower grades
Teaching “bell to bell” is required
Very specific NES-style schedules posted outside teacher’s classrooms
Teacher SPOT observations require LOs and DOLs without any accommodations for the IB Framework
Teachers express that they lack the time to make IB principles meaningful in their lessons or to create transdisciplinary connections, both of which are fundamental aspects of the IB framework.