Sarah Mueller
Education reporterAn experienced journalist, I joined LehighValleyNews.com as its education reporter. I bring several years of media experience at public radio stations including NPR Illinois, WFSU Public Media and Delaware Public Media. I’ve covered state and local government, interviewing lawmakers, governors and congressional leaders. In my personal life, I’m a passionate animal lover, hiker and documentary enthusiast. A documentary for which I worked as a researcher, Fire in the Meadows, won first place at the 2022 Tallahassee Film Festival for best documentary short film. It explored the effects of an investor buying a local mobile home park, raising rents and forcing tenants out of their homes. Contact me at SarahM@lehighvalleynews.com or and subscribe to my newsletter here.
-
The students get to study a master and work to produce art inspired by his or her genius -
State House Democrats approved adding $1.7 billion more education spending, including more money to the poorest districts. The final budget will be negotiated with Senate leaders and the governor's office.
-
Some parents and residents are asking schools to take books off library shelves. Others want a parental consent policy for children to take out some books.
-
The nonprofit Community Action Lehigh Valley has worked for about two years to buy Cleveland Elementary School so it can turn into space for area youth.
-
The 21st Century program is to help students with academic support and art and music enrichment.
-
The program started with 60 students in 2019, but the numbers have fallen off in the wake of the pandemic.
-
The school board will develop and vote on a new dress and grooming policy next for the 2023-24 school year.
-
Shapiro did not answer a question about whether he supports more Level Up money for the state's poorest school districts.
-
He is asking state lawmakers to approve $500 million to improve the emotional well-being of youth over the next five years
-
An internal analysis concluded it needed more qualified low-income students to make it financially feasible under the Community Eligibility Provision.
-
The district decided in October to not implement the no-cost meals
-
The city removed the check box after concerns were raised over whether the question of legal status was overly intrusive and whether it could be discouraging requests.
-
The center, where access was limited because of the pandemic, has recently opened up and resumed programming.
-
Alleged unauthorized spending sparked the concept of the possible need, and forensic audits are typically done when there are specific allegations of misconduct, according to the district's solicitor and business manager. At least one school board member voiced early opposition to the audit.
-
The annual school board reorganization is among several agenda items on the docket for Thursday night.
-
Carol Birks discussed safety, learning and retention at a town hall meeting Wednesday at Hays Elementary School.
-
Students at Lehigh Valley school districts and across the state are continuing a downward trend of performing below pre-pandemic levels on state standardized tests.
-
Members of the group called for a review of library books and a policy banning transgender athletes, and they questioned white privilege and bias training.
-
Newly-elected Lehigh Valley State Sen. Jarett Coleman has dropped a lawsuit he filed last year against the Parkland School District that sought to invalidate teacher pay raises. The trial over Sunshine Act breaches was scheduled to take place this week.
-
The Board has approved a contract for the services of retired Judge Emil Giordano to conduct an unspecified investigation in the Bethlehem Area School District.
-
A fuel spill from an overturned tanker truck prompted an evacuation in a Bethlehem neighborhood early Thursday.
-
Animal response workers cared for up to 5 dogs and a cat at Nitschmann Middle School as they sheltered with their people.
