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Tiered Focused Monitoring – Press Release:
During the week of December 8, 2025 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of The Harvard Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines with.The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.
Parents and other individuals may call David Parker, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781)338-3466 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at DOE website link (https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/).
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We commit to providing a high quality education centered around
dynamic learning and personal well-being in a community where everyone can find belonging.
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Wellness Committee
The Wellness Committee performed an assessment of our Local Wellness Policy on November 6, 2025. These assessments take place every three years and test the strength of the current policy as well as the implementation. As a result of the assessment, the Committee will be using the results of the Wellness Policy Strengths Checklist to draft an update of the Wellness Policy to present to the School Committee for approval. The checklist aims to assist districts in revising policy to support whole child health. Some areas of improvement in the implementation of the wellness policy centered around student voice in menu planning for the school lunch program as well as implementing more local foods into the menu. The checklist also brought attention to several best practices that the district is already implementing but is not explicitly spelled out in the policy. Examples of this include: requiring all food and beverages marketed in school to meet the USDA Smart Snacks Standards, movement breaks in the classroom and recess before lunch when possible. The Wellness Committee will be looking to codify practices such as these in the policy when they begin working on their recommendations at their next meeting in January.
Message from our Superintendent
Welcome to our site.
It is my pleasure to serve as the Superintendent of Schools in Harvard, MA. Our district welcomes all students and their families into our learning community. We take specific steps to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our vision statement says that we commit to providing a high quality education centered around dynamic learning and personal well being in a community where everyone can find belonging. We set our district goals to achieve this vision as we refine our practices and collaborate with families. Thank you for partnering with us.
Linda G. Dwight