The Pennsylvania Department of Education says that support and performance improvement are needed at several Bethlehem Area schools.

At its most recent meeting, the Bethlehem Area School Board approved the academic action plans for seven schools for 2024–25: Broughal, Nitschmann, Northeast, and Liberty high schools; Freemansburg and Marvine primary schools; and Liberty and Freedom high schools. With a comprehensive school improvement (CSI) designation, Broughal Middle School is considered to be suffering "severe issues in academic attainment, student progress, and other areas."

Broughal has been awarded $585,236 in government cash to carry out improvement plans as a result of the CSI designation. Federal Title I grant money, which is intended to assist students in meeting academic standards, especially in low-income regions, was also awarded to the middle school in the amount of $478,112. In 2022, the three-year CSI designation's last data cycle got underway. The district claims that Broughal has held the CSI classification for a total of six years.

Currently, 118 schools in the state—six of which are in the Allentown School District—have the title of CSI. The CSI accreditation was also awarded to Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, which has an office in Allentown, and Innovative Arts Academy in Catasauqua. Liberty and Freedom high schools require more focused assistance and enhancements for students with disabilities, as per a three-year classification. This indicates that the performance of the high school students with impairments is either at or below that of the CSI schools. There are no grant monies available for the designation of A-TSI.

The A-TSI designation's final data cycle started in 2022. The district claims that Liberty and Freedom have been designated as A-TSI for a total of six years. The performance of one or more student groups has placed roughly 225 Pennsylvanian institutions, including Dieruff High School in Allentown and Easton Area Middle School in Easton, on the A-TSI certification list.For the 2024–2025 academic year, Liberty and Freedom high schools were also designated as receiving targeted support and improvement. The TSI designation was also given to the Nitschmann and Northeast middle schools, Freemansburg and Marvine elementary schools.

This one-year designation indicates that certain student groups are performing at or below state standards. For English language learners, economically disadvantaged kids, Black students, and Hispanic students, Liberty was awarded the TSI classification. Freedom was designated as a TSI for students who are Hispanic, economically underprivileged, and English language learners. Nitschmann was granted the TSI classification, which is granted to kids who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, and students with disabilities.

For students with disabilities, English language learners, economically disadvantaged students, Black students, and Hispanic students, Northeast was awarded the TSI distinction. The TSI designation for English language learners went to Marvine, while the designation for students with disabilities went to Freemansburg. There are no grant funding available for the designation of TSI. Federal Title I funds are provided to Northeast, Marvine, and Freemansburg schools, who use them to carry out their improvement programs.

The district claims that Liberty and Freedom have been designated as TSIs for a total of five years. For a total of four years, Freemansburg has been designated as a TSI community. Marvine Elementary School, Nitschmann and Northeast Middle Schools, and Northeast Middle School have all had the TSI certification for a combined two years. Assistant Superintendent Maureen Leeson of the BASD said that East Hills Middle School and Fountain Hill Elementary School were taken off the TSI designation list due to improved performance. Both schools had been on the list for a total of four years. Dieruff and Union Terrace Elementary School in Allentown are among the 521 Pennsylvanian schools on the TSI designation list for 2024–2025 due to the performance of one or more student groups.

Furthermore, high schools in Catasauqua, Easton Area, Emmaus, Salisbury, and Whitehall were all designated as TSI for one or more student groups.

Additionally granted the status for 2024–25 are Salisbury Elementary School, Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School, and Lehigh Valley Dual Language Charter School. 

 

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