K-12 News

Some Lehigh Valley school districts are seeing an increase in chronic absenteeism and truancy following the COVID-19 pandemic. And what was already an issue before COVID appears to have reached a level of urgency in some schools.

The Allentown School District made school uniforms optional this year for the first time since 2013.

Schools in the Lehigh Valley are about to start. Here's a roundup of the 17 school district's important dates and things to note.

Bethlehem Area School District teachers hit the streets on the city's South Side to help students feel comfortable transitioning to a new school experience.

A federal court judge is allowing the assistant principal who filed the civil rights lawsuit to amend his complaint. It stemmed from an altercation at a high school football game last fall.

Last year, Bethlehem Area and Allentown school districts were waitlisted to get rebate funding through the Clean School Bus program. Another round of applications for this fiscal year is open until later this month.

The Parkland School District now has two final options for how it will address projected overcrowding in its schools. A decision could come within the next two months.

The school was designated with a state Targeted Support and Improvement designation due to lagging performance by its cohort of economically disadvantaged students. Officials laid out plans to improve the issues present.

The new makerspace at Slatington Elementary School will help students learn STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) skills. It will primarily be used by an after school program called Schools & Homes In Education, or SHINE.

House Education Committee Chair Peter Schweyer said Level Up funding should be released immediately.

The interactive event features a local author and historian discussing the birth of the U.S. Constitution for children ages 7-12 years old.

Shelly (Jacobs) Bartolacci is retiring as an Easton girls basketball coach three years after retiring from teaching. Her retirement marks the end of a 54-year association with the Easton Area School District as a student, teacher or coach.

The classroom business Suds-abilities helps developmentally disabled students gain social and vocational skills in school.

The school district is asking families whether they support adding metal detectors to the high schools.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with digital content producer Kat Dickey and managing producer Stephanie Sigafoos.

Security officers searched multiple students Monday morning after finding them smoking in a bathroom during school hours, according to police.

The Parkland School District acquired the property at 3599 Broadway, next to Cetronia Elementary. The former landowner had previously planned to put a drug and alcohol recovery house there.

Parkland School District Superintendent Mark Madson recommended the district build additions to the high school to address its growing student population.

Superintendent Michael Mahon's objectives include a marketing plan for the new stadium and new cybersecurity measures.

Antonio Traca had filed a lawsuit against BASD and former Superintendent Joe Roy after a physical altercation between himself and Roy at a high school football game last fall.

In a recent national report, Pennsylvania received a failing grade in its regulation and treatment of lead in schools’ water. Six local schools have reported unacceptable levels of lead since 2018, and one expert says some of the remediation methods they used are less than perfect.

The school district wants to install upgrades — including restrooms, concessions and seating — at Andre Reed Park next to Dieruff High School.