ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown Schools Superintendent Carol Birks reflected on the district’s progress over the past year at her 2024 State of the School District address on Wednesday at the Americus Hotel.
"We're creating and reimagining our district so we can meet the needs of all of our learners."Carol Birks, ASD Superintendent
“We're creating and reimagining our district so we can meet the needs of all of our learners,” Birks said.
Birks, who has led the district since October 2022, invited the crowd of partners in the hotel’s ballroom to renew their commitment to the district whether through time, money or donations.
The event was held by Allentown Chamber of Commerce.
Birks also highlighted some of ASD’s successes and priorities, including academic growth, resource allocation and decreasing suspensions.
ASD academic successes
The district has opened three new schools, including a theme-based elementary school that collaborates with the Da Vinci Science Center to promote science learning.
The district plans to build a new school on the city’s East Side, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Additionally, the district invested $22 million in new curricula with a focus on inclusivity and culturally responsive teaching.
ASD also hired more than 40 arts teachers and invested $1 million in new instruments to bolster its arts programming, Birks said.
ASD expanded its language offerings, too, which include Spanish, French, Arabic, German and American Sign Language.
The district has seen academic growth on standardized tests, Birks added.
For literacy and English language arts, 12 ASD schools met or exceeded the state’s growth target at the elementary and secondary levels based on 2023-24 scores.
For math, 10 schools met or exceeded the state’s growth standard.
Resource allocations targeted
As for resource allocation, Birks has implemented a student-based budgeting model in which district dollars follow each student.
She also has instituted school quality reviews to make sure principals have the resources they need.
“We are focusing on combating our disproportionality in discipline."Allentown School District Superintendent Carol Birks
Birks said she hopes to increase the number of community schools in the district to offer a more well-rounded schooling experience for students.
Community schools focus on the non-academic needs of students and their families by partnering with outside organizations to provide additional resources.
ASD also is focused on restorative practices, which aim to repair harm through conversations and actions instead of punishments.
“We are focusing on combating our disproportionality in discipline,” Birks said.
In 2024, ASD reduced in-school suspension rates by 42% and suspension rates by 16%.
Birks invited ASD students to share their experiences in the district with the community partners gathered at Wednesday’s event.
Student experiences
Dieruff High School senior Cayden Sprayberry spoke about his experience taking advanced placement classes and competing as a district athlete.
Cayden said he appreciates getting to share the student perspective with ASD leaders as a member of the superintendent’s student advisory council and as a student representative to Allentown School Board.
"The arts has really helped me not only as a student but as a person, as well."Makayla Baptist, freshman at Allen High School
“I have a lot of experience being empowered and having a voice and being able to represent the students at Dieruff and make sure students’ voices are heard,” he said.
Allen High School freshman Makayla Baptist spoke about the importance of the arts and the district’s recent investment in its programming.
Makayla, a member of the marching band, said music has helped her manage stress and succeed academically.
“The arts has really helped me not only as a student but as a person as well,” she said.
The path forward
Birks highlighted the district’s strategic plan, which was approved in October, as the roadmap for ASD in coming years.
The priorities of the strategic plan include academic excellence; safety and whole-child development; creating pathways for tomorrow; empowering families and strengthening partnerships; exceptional workforce: talent management and development; organizational efficiencies and effectiveness; and technology for universal learning.
Birks also said ASD is focused on increasing academic outcomes, promoting personalized learning and creating more theme-based schools.
Additionally, Birks wants ASD to expand workforce development opportunities, fund the arts, empower innovation, invest in human capital and ensure there are multiple pathways for student success, she said.
Birks said fostering community partnerships will be essential to her goal of making ASD one of the best districts in the state.
She highlighted different opportunities for community partners to support ASD, including through funding scholarships, sponsoring student field trips, donating educational equipment or tutoring students.
