The mission of the Greater Lehigh Valley Consortium for Excellence and Equity (GLVCEE) is to ensure equity and access to educational services to transform the lives of all students, especially diverse and disadvantaged students who have historically been underserved in educational institutions. We are partners and a strong collective voice committed to creating and sustaining meaningful educational change through a focus on: establishing common vocabulary and beliefs toward equity, conducting data-informed inquiry into equity, and employing a process to address equity issues.

2021-2022 Advisory Board
Joseph Roy, Superintendent of Bethlehem Area School District
Brian Osborne, Executive Director
Beth Taglioli, Assistant Director and Graduate Assistant

Lehigh Valley school districts join forces to focus on student equity

About a dozen area school leaders joined the consortium, which is modeled after a similarly-named entity in the Delaware Valley. Members said they aim to work together to exchange ideas and experiences trying to give students the same opportunities, no matter what their backgrounds.

"I think we've seen a growth in the percentage of kids that are considered economically disadvantaged in many districts. That brings a whole host of challenges," said Joseph Roy, the Bethlehem Area School District superintendent and co-chairman of the consortium. "How do those kids whose families are really struggling financially access all the opportunities that schools provide?"

Bethlehem Area recently completed an 18-page report that lays out a plan for addressing those issues. Among the suggestions is an evaluating the district's transportation system to see if it hinders some students from joining before-school, after-school and weekend activities.

The consortium started this school year and members were able to attend five sessions meant to teach them about the issue. Next year they hope to include more district members, including principals and teachers.