Interfaith Council

• To provide regular updates, resources, and key information for clergy members to share with their communities.
• To listen and respond to feedback about the needs of students and families.
• To partner with clergy to ensure families feel supported, engaged, and connected to the district’s vision for student success.

• Engage with Allentown School District departments and schools
• Make a tangible difference in the lives of local students, families, and educators.
• Strengthen neighborhoods by building positive, supportive relationships.
• Fulfill your faith community’s calling to serve others.

Education & Mentorship

• Be a Guest Speaker or Classroom Reader
• Sponsor or volunteer for after-school clubs and student enrichment programs.
• Tutoring, Mentoring, After-School Support
   

Family & Community Engagement 

• Tell your community about school initiatives and family engagement opportunities.
• Connect families with ASD services.
• Host events or resource fairs for families or students.
   

School Environment & Advocacy 

• Coordinate school donation events to support students in need.
• Donate funds or supplies to support learning.
• Help families facing transportation issues or childcare for school events.
   

Basic Needs & School Support 

• Join a School Governance Council to provide insight on school policies.
• Organize beautification projects to enhance learning environments.
• Partner with a local school through the Adopt-A-School program.

Faith-based organizations can join the network by completing the Interfaith Council Interest Form.  After the district has received and reviewed your application, the Office of Family and Community Engagement will reach out to you regarding the next steps.

RESOURCES
The information and links are to help school partners and our community’s faith-based organizations work more effectively.

• How Faith Communities Support Children’s Learning in Public Schools

Public schools are encouraged to develop faith-based partnerships provided there is an understanding of some concepts related to the separation of church and state.

Here are some guidelines as cooperative relationships are developed:

• Under the First Amendment, public schools must be neutral concerning religion in all of their activities. Mutually beneficial partnerships are encouraged that improve student learning and growth.
• Schools must be open to participation by all responsible community groups. Other community organizations must be given an equal opportunity and are subject to the same secular selection criteria to operate programs in partnerships with schools.
• Diverse faith communities are encouraged to partner with schools.
• A student's grades, class ranking or participation in any school program will not be affected by his or her willingness to participate or not participate in a cooperative program with a faith-based partner. Student participation in any cooperative program may not be conditioned on membership in any religious group, acceptance or rejection of any religious belief, or participation (or refusal to participate) in any religious activity.
• All partnerships and partnership activities must remain secular.
• School volunteers and partners should be reminded that all conversation with students should remain secular.
  • Do not pray with students or encourage prayer.
  • Do not preach about faith while participating in a partnership activity.
  • Do not prohibit a student from speaking about religion.
• A student's religious beliefs will not prohibit that student from being part of a faith-based partnership activity.
• Partnership activities conducted at a faith-based facility may be done so in rooms with religious icons or symbols. However, rooms cannot display any proselytizing materials.
• Space leased by a school from a faith-based organization and used for instructional purposes must be free of religious symbols.

If you have additional questions related to faith-based partnerships in the Allentown School District, please contact:

Nancy Ruiz, Parent Liaison Facilitator
Telephone: (484) 765-4071
Email: ruizn@allentownsd.org