ALLENTOWN, PA - At its Thursday, April 23, 2026, School Board of Directors Meeting, the Allentown School District shared an update on its ongoing work to strengthen transparency and data use across the district, including the launch of a new public-facing Attendance Dashboard.
This work is part of a broader effort to build a system that supports both transparency and continuous improvement, giving staff, families, and the community clearer insight into the district's progress and where additional support is needed. The dashboard provides staff, families, partners, and community members with clear, accessible, and timely insight into student attendance trends across the District.
“Transparency in the progress we are making in our Strategic Plan implementation is a priority for the Allentown School District,” said Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Carol D. Birks. “By making this information accessible, we are not only holding ourselves accountable to our goals, but also strengthening our partnership with families and the community in addressing barriers to student attendance.”
The Attendance Dashboard represents the first step in a broader rollout of public-facing data tools designed to make district progress more visible and understandable. Additional dashboards, including School Profiles and progress trackers for the strategic plan, are currently in development.
While some of the resources are designed for public access, the District is also building internal systems to support how schools and central office teams use data to improve outcomes. These dashboards will help staff identify student needs, monitor progress, and adjust strategies in real time.
Attendance is a key focus area within the District’s strategic plan, Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030. Research shows that regular school attendance is a strong predictor of student success, and district data continues to highlight the importance of addressing chronic absenteeism.
On the dashboard, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of the school year, or approximately two days per month. Over time, even small amounts of missed instruction can significantly impact academic progress, social development, and access to consistent support from educators.
The public can access the new Attendance Dashboard and Attendance Resources by visiting the Allentown School District website.