Allentown School District Strategic Plan Steering Committee
Addresses Core Values and Community Survey
ALLENTOWN, PA — On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Lehigh Valley Health Network–Innovation Center, One City Center, 707 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, the Allentown School District’s Strategic Plan Steering Committee reviewed and began revising the District’s Core Values so they will focus more directly on the current beliefs and ideals of our Learning Community.
The Allentown School District is developing a Strategic Plan that will serve as a framework to shape our goals and guardrails to ensure the future success of our students and all members of our learning community.
High-quality and top-performing organizations, including school districts, regularly evaluate their systems, structures, and practices. Strategic Plans are customarily updated every 3–5 years to ensure that districts best serve students, staff, and families and implement the most current educational practices.
In 2017, Allentown School District updated its strategic plan to reflect its core values.
Our commitment to Excellence, Partnership, and Equity means that we believe in:
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Honoring each student’s unique abilities
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Ensuring equity of access and opportunities
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Nurturing the pursuit of lifelong learning
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Strengthening partnerships with families and communities
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Promoting cultural responsiveness
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Building trust and mutual respect
“The Allentown School District as a community needs Core Values that speak to what it believes and holds as principles in order to guide the behavior of its students,” . “For the Strategic Plan and specifically the Portrait of a Graduate to be truly impactful, it is imperative that the Community is engaged and provides input.” Dr. Carol D. Birks, Allentown School District’s Superintendent
To align the District’s Core Values properly and truly formulate an informed Vision and Portrait of a Graduate, the Steering Committee will analyze input gathered from the community. The Allentown School District is accomplishing this by surveying its stakeholders. The survey can be accessed here.
Throughout the Strategic Planning Process, the Allentown School District will also conduct an Equity Audit to ensure that the District’s priorities are rooted in equity and access for all students.
In addition to completing the survey, there will also be many opportunities for public engagement through a variety of community and district Focus Groups. During the Strategic Planning Process, the Steering Committee will incorporate feedback from Advisory Committees that review the priorities and drafts of the Strategic Plan.
The goal is to present the Strategic Plan for approval to the Allentown School District Board of School Directors at its May 23, 2024 meeting.
Future Allentown School District Strategic Plan Steering Committee Meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024; Tuesday, March 12, 2024; Tuesday, April 9, 2024; and Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
After each Steering Committee Meeting, the District will update the community on the plan development progress through its website, email and newsletter updates, and social media.