bethlehem school district homework policy

Active Learning Centers

1-833-ALC-KIDS

Before & After Care

The question of before and after care can be a challenging one, especially for working parents. How will your child get to school? Who will help him or her with her homework? We’ve heard many such issues from the parents we serve, and we’ve crafted an ideal solution so your school-aged child can be safe, get to and from school every day, work on homework, be with friends, and have fun.

With our Before and After Care program, parents are able to drop their children off before school and they will have a safe place to prepare for the day ahead. Parents experiencing a time crunch are welcome to bring breakfast with them and our capable staff will make sure the kids are fed before they leave for school.

After school, the children will have snack time and then be given the time and help needed to complete their homework. Once school work is out of the way, the children will have the opportunity for individual and group play. Children will never be parked in front of a television or allowed indefinite screen time. While we do have electronics available for homework help, while your child is at ALC we’ll be emphasizing homework help and then active, engaged play.

EMMAUS : 610-966-2234

PALMER:  610-829-1818 TREXLERTOWN : 484-460-1806 FOGELSVILLE : 610-366-8084 BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP : 610-984-1025

Transportation:

Provided to and from school (see below for a complete list of schools we service). In the event of snow days or early school closings we will remain open. You just won’t find this level of convenience anywhere else in the area.

Schools where we pick up and drop off:

Emmaus Location:

East Penn School District

Lincoln Elementary

Jefferson Elementary

Lower Macungie Middle School

Southern Lehigh

Hopewell Elementary

Liberty Bell Elementary

St. Michael the Archangel (Lim e port) )

Private Schools

St. Ann’s Catholic School

Seven Generation Charter School

Palmer Location:

Easton School District​

Edward Tracy Elementary

Palmer Elementary

Paxinosa Elementary

Shawnee Elementary

Nazareth Area School District

Kenneth M. Butz Elementary

Lower Nazareth Elementary

Nazareth Intermediate

Floyd R. Shafer Elementary

Wilson Area School District

Wilson Area Intermediate

Wilson Borough Elementary

Fogelsville Location: 

Parkland School District

Cetronia Elementary

Fogelsville Elementary

Fred J. Jaindl Elementary

Kernsville Elementary

Orefield Middle

Parkway Manor Elementary

Schnecksville Elementary

Springhouse Middle

Veterans Memorial Elementary

Northwestern Lehigh School District

Weisenberg Elementary

Circle of Seasons Charter School

Trexlertown Location:

Alburtis Elementary

Eyer Middle

Lower Macungie Middle

Macungie Elementary

Shoemaker Elementary

Wescosville Elementary

Willow Lane Elementary

Bethlehem Location:

Bethlehem School District

Governor Wolf Elementary

Miller Heights Elementary

Spring Garden Elementary

Marvine Elementary

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

William Penn Elementary

Freemansburg Elementary

Farmersville Elementary

Moravian Academy

East Hills Middle School

Northeast Middle School

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

St. Anne School

Moravian Academy Middle School

EMMAUS : 610-595-9792

PALMER:   610-595-9116 TREXLERTOWN : 610-632-8293 FOGELSVILLE : 610-998-3773 BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP : 610-510-7717

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• BETHLEHEM, PA

Bethlehem Area School District

• grade  B Overall Grade
• Rating 4.12 out of 5   123 reviews

Report Card

• Academics grade  B minus
• Diversity grade  A
• Teachers grade  B
• College Prep grade  B+
• Clubs & Activities grade  A minus
• Administration grade  B
• Sports grade  A
• Food grade  C+
• Resources & Facilities grade  C minus
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• Most Diverse School Districts in Pennsylvania 11 of 497
• Best School Districts for Athletes in Pennsylvania 50 of 489
• Best School Districts in Pennsylvania 165 of 496

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Elementary Schools in Bethlehem Area School District

Hanover elementary school, miller heights elementary school, asa packer elementary school.

• Rating 3.4 out of 5   5 reviews

James Buchanan Elementary School

Governor wolf elementary school, popular colleges.

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• grade  A Penn State 649 Students
• grade  A minus Temple University 623 Students
• grade  B minus Northampton Community College 478 Students
• grade  A University of Pittsburgh 455 Students
• grade  B minus Moravian University 413 Students
• grade  A+ Lehigh University 324 Students
• grade  A minus Drexel University 284 Students
• grade  B minus Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 273 Students
• grade  B minus Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg 262 Students
• grade  B minus West Chester University of Pennsylvania 232 Students

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• Instruction 64%
• Support Services 33%

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• Cost of Living grade  B minus
• Good for Families grade  B+
• Housing grade  C+

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• Rating 5 out of 5   Excellent 45   reviews ( 37 %)
• Rating 4 out of 5   Very Good 53   reviews ( 43 %)
• Rating 3 out of 5   Average 21   reviews ( 17 %)
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BASD administrators strongly advise against granting Bethlehem STEAM Academy charter

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem Area schools administrators strongly advised against granting charter school status to the proposed Bethlehem STEAM Academy at a special meeting Monday, citing numerous issues with community support and academics.

Superintendent Jack Silva and Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Maureen Leeson both recommended the school board vote against the charter school, which consultant David Piperato had pitched as a school offering “rigorous academic content emphasizing science, technology, engineering, arts and math .”

Monday’s meeting was an extension of the original presentation for the charter on Dec. 18.

At that meeting, Piperato, a former Easton Area School District superintendent, offered a presentation for Bethlehem STEAM Academy, a charter focused on an integrated learning model introduced in Harrisburg.

He said the proposed school's mission, through partnerships with higher education, school organizations, nonprofits, community partners and local businesses and government agencies, would be to provide students "with rigorous academic content, emphasizing science, technology, engineering, arts and math.”

'Failed to do its homework'

During public comment Monday, former Lehigh University professor George White expressed concerns about student safety with traffic at the charter’s intended 316 E. Market St. location, and questioned the lack of a thorough curriculum plan.

Allison Peterson, an attorney for the district who presided over a session of questioning directed at Piperato — along with his fellow consultant Michael Makhoul, the former Dieruff High School principal, and their attorney Brian H. Leinhauser — cited issues with adequate parking, the potential board for the charter school and details regarding payment for the property, among other items.

Leinhauser said the school, if granted a charter, would not be obligated to pay Charter Solutions Inc. upon establishing the facility, at least as per his legal advice.

“The lack of evidence of integrated learning practices and the reliance upon skewed results are concerning. The STEAM Academy Charter School provides redundant or lesser programming and the Bethlehem Area School Districts, and the curriculum, instruction, and professional development plans do not align to their vision."

Silva's comments focused on a lack of community support for the charter school. He said the proposed school lacked the backing that the Pennsylvania STEAM Academy in Harrisburg had in its environment.

Piperato specifically highlighted the Harrisburg STEAM Academy as an inspiration for the Bethlehem property.

“The Bethlehem STEAM Academy Charter School failed to do its homework in securing the support of significant and sufficient community partners for local STEM organizations, arts organizations, business organizations, special education, service providers, and parent associations,” Silva said.

“In contrast, the PA STEAM Academy Charter School did its homework and enlisted from its beginnings sufficient school support and partnerships from former Pennsylvania Secretaries of Education, institutions of higher learning, leading steam organizations, local arts, education providers, and local chambers of commerce, as well as their local intermediate unit and parent organizations in the Harrisburg area.”

Silva highlighted lack of support from supposed local partners cited in the Dec. 18 presentation, including Lehigh University, the DaVinci Science Center, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Touchstone Theater, and #BASDProud Parents.

The superintendent displayed correspondence with each of those denying support, with Lehigh requesting that a previously submitted form letter be removed.

Silva said that while the application for the academy “describes a school for 240 students in one year… only 34 potential students who reside in the Bethlehem Area School District, who would be of the proper age” to attend.

Beyond that, Silva said of 97 letters of community support, 32 came from businesses at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, outside the school district.

Silva said that among the 97 letters, “some business owners expressed that they were not aware of [or] concerned with what they were signing.”

Silva also pointed out two other proposed STEAM Academy projects in Allentown and Whitehall would be leased by developer Abraham Atyieh, who also would lease the Bethlehem property.

“The board needs to look no further than the evidence of the STEAM Academy Charter School’s motivation and lack of community support than its own application and its applicants’ testimony,” Silva said.

Academic programming, community partnerships

Leeson called attention to what she said were issues with the academy’s academic programming, saying it doesn't meet the minimum standard to “provide a comprehensive learning experience to students” and serve as a model for public schools.

She was interrupted by Leinhauser, who questioned whether she needed to read the entirety of her 24-page statement into the record.

"I could go off script, but I don't think you want me to," Leeson said, with the crowd laughing in response.

Questioning the use of “Balanced Literacy,” a system of literacy instruction created by Marie Clay, Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, Leeson cited Emily Hanford’s podcast “Sold a Story” to point out problems with the methodology.

“Respected reading researcher Dr. Mark Seidenberg wrote, ‘Fountas and Pinnell’s approach to reading creates learning difficulties for which their curriculum then offers solutions,’” Leeson said.

“Bethlehem Area School District adopted a structured literacy approach in 2016 and prides itself on being a local and national leader in elementary reading instruction.”

Leeson said the charter’s proposed curriculum “does not substantiate” claims made by Piperato previously, particularly in terms of an “integrated learning experience” where students would apply concepts across classes.

“We agree, it sounds great, but that is it. It just sounds nice,” Leeson said.

Leeson repeated Silva’s commentary about a lack of support, saying BASD partners with local organizations, including Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center, ArtsQuest, the Pennsylvania Philharmonic Orchestra.

'We encourage the board to reject the application'

Other issues brought up by Leeson included differences in staffing from the Harrisburg facility and the planned Bethlehem school, and noted differences in population dynamics, such as English language learners and special education students.

“The lack of evidence of integrated learning practices and the reliance upon skewed results are concerning," Leeson said.

"The STEAM Academy Charter School provides redundant or lesser programming and the Bethlehem Area School Districts, and the curriculum, instruction and professional development plans do not align to their vision.”

Leeson also addressed a budgetary shortfall for the academy in the amount of $492,023 in 2025, escalating to $1,029,486 by 2029 because of a lack of an existing retirement plan.

“These factors lead us to seriously question the credibility of this application," Leeson said.

"Bethlehem Area School District asserts that Bethlehem STEAM Academy Charter School did not meet its burden of establishing its capabilities to provide comprehensive learning experiences, and its burden to show that it would serve as a model for other schools.”

Silva concluded the presentation by stating, “to boil it all down to one administrative recommendation, we encourage the board to reject the application for specific reasons of insufficient community support and poor academic programs.”

Leinhauser stated the applicants would respond to the district’s comments in writing, “in terms of the misrepresentations of what content of the application actually is or areas of law that they've represented to the board.”

Piperato said his attorney advised him not to comment on the proceedings. He said a response will be sent to the school board by Jan. 31.

A school board vote on a final decision for the charter application has not been set.

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Six total threats received by Bethlehem schools

The Bethlehem Central School District has now received a total of six threats of violence – all of which police said are coming from a “spoofed” number.

Superintendent of Schools Jody Monroe said schools will be open on Monday with increased security.

“All school activities, including after school activities, will resume unless otherwise communicated by the district,” she said at a news conference on Friday.

She thanked the police for all of their hard work.

Bethlehem Police Chief Gina Cocchiara outlined the timeline of threats made against the district.

• Tuesday, September 10th at 8:30 p.m. – A voicemail was left on the high school phone system threatening to shoot up the school.
• Tuesday, Sept. 10, 8:38 p.m. – Bethlehem Police dispatch receives its first phone call making that same threat to shoot everybody at the school.
• Wednesday, Sept. 11, 3:56 p.m. – Bethlehem Police dispatch receive a threat to shoot the football team at the high school. That led to the cancellation of after school activities.
• Wednesday, Sept. 11, 9:16 p.m. – The dispatch center receives a third call from a person saying they are going to shoot up Bethlehem Middle School and Bethlehem High School.
• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m. – A fourth call was received at the dispatch center saying they were going to shoot up the high school.
• Thursday, Sept. 12 at 8:03 p.m. – The police dispatch center received a fifth call saying it was going to shoot the football team at its practice on Friday at 5:30 p.m.  

Cocchiara said police are doing everything they can to figure out who is making these calls.

“We’re not going to stop until we bring this coward to justice. This is what we do, and we do it very well,” she said at a news conference on Friday afternoon.

The FBI is helping with the investigation. A male voice is on the line in all of the threats.

However, police cannot trace the call, because it is not a regular number, but a spoofed number that is masking the source of the call. Also, Google has not been very helpful in the investigation, the chief said.

Anyone who may have information related to these incidents is asked to contact the Bethlehem Police Department at 518-439-9973. 

“We will not stop giving resources to the school district. We will have more police officers within the schools. I personally show up here at 6:30 a.m. every morning and I’ll continue to do so. This is my community and these are my kids and my families, police officers have kids in these schools.”

The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

Craig Tremaroli, special agent in charge for the FBI said that federal agents have been working very closely with local law enforcement agencies. The FBI has seen a rise in these kinds of cases and takes them very seriously.

“Our office has been providing significant resources to assist Bethlehem Police Department with their investigation, specifically investigative intelligence and forensic capabilities to include cell phone and tracking analysis. It’s important to note the FBI’s largest resource we can bring to bear is our reach. Many times, these investigations involve multiple states and jurisdictions,” he said.

Bethlehem Supervisor David VanLuven said these phone call threats have been frightening but he is reassured by the incredible cooperation of police and school officials.

Assemblywoman Pat Fahy (D – Albany) has lobbied for federal help in this investigation and reached out to U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko.

“As a parent, my heart goes out to every family here, every administrator, every teacher. This is just a terrible and relentless uh situation that is going on now across the country,” she said.