The Allentown School District has been selected by Tyler Technologies, the leading provider of public sector software and services, as a 2026 Excellence Award winner highlighted for Performance and Innovation. The Allentown School District was recognized for its use of Tyler’s Student Transportation solution to improve transportation efficiency and chronic absenteeism by bringing routing in-house and utilizing data-driven fleet scheduling.
Prior to 2024, the Allentown School District relied on a legacy platform and a single bus contractor that had managed all routing decisions for over a decade, resulting in limited internal oversight and accountability. Tyler Technologies was selected because its software provided the specific functionality needed to support the District’s new vision, particularly the ability to assign precise stop times and maximize vehicle utilization through the Fleet Schedule feature. By implementing this solution, the district reduced student walking distances from 1.5 miles to 1 mile, reducing the need for students to navigate alleys or busy streets. This enhancement helped remove transportation-related barriers to school access and contributed to broader district efforts to improve student attendance.
"Receiving the Tyler Technologies Excellence Award serves as a powerful validation of our ongoing commitment to organizational transformation and the strategic reimagining of our transportation infrastructure," stated Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer. "Our ability to provide transportation to more students has removed barriers to attending school while simultaneously creating a sustainable fiscal resource. Each dollar captured through enhanced efficiency represents a direct reinvestment in our scholars, ensuring that our dedication to financial stewardship facilitates world-class academic opportunities within the classroom."
The transition to Tyler’s solution has delivered substantial financial and operational benefits to the Allentown community. The district has seen a 170% increase in state subsidies over four years, growing from $2.5 million in 2021-22 to an estimated $6.8 million for 2024-25. Beyond the financial gains, the software’s visibility showed that a 15-minute shift in elementary school start times would greatly increase efficiency and reduce single-tier routes.
The district is also piloting the My Ride K-12 mobile app to streamline family communication, providing real-time bus ETAs and eliminating the need for manual phone calls to thousands of parents.
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