Parents can be vocal and assertive leaders advocating for excellent schools. Through IDRA’s almost 40-year history, a strong model of parent engagement has evolved, constructed from the experiences in the field, especially with Title I schools and the families whose children attend them. This website helps families see how their school is doing and how the school should treat you (English & Spanish), see actions families can take, get resources on IDRA’s Family Leadership in Education model and learn about college preparation for all students.

PTA Comunitario ~ The Power of Family Leadership in Education
The idea that parents don’t care about education is a myth. When families are treated with dignity and respect, they become the strongest long-term advocates for a quality public education for all children. An example of this is the PTA Comunitario model, which is grounded in IDRA’s Family Leadership in Education process and decades of experience engaging parents and families in education and partnering with community-based organizations in South Texas working with poor families in distressed colonias. In late 2012, IDRA was selected by the U.S. Department of Education to expand development of the PTA Comunitario model in five communities in Central and South Texas, through the i3 Initiative.

Immigrant Students’ Rights to Attend Public Schools
Many educators are not aware that the education of undocumented students is guaranteed by the Plyler vs. Doe decision or that certain procedures must be followed when registering immigrant children in school. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education recently reminded schools that activities that deny or discourage students to attend school are unlawful. See IDRA’s School Opening Alert for details. Available in pdf in English and Spanish.

¡YA! Es Tiempo – Securing Educational Excellence and Equity for All Students in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas
See how more than 100 residents in a Rio Grande Valley community talked with White House officials, examined data about their schools and developed strategies and commitments they will take to improve schools for children and youth in the Rio Grande Valley.

Engaging Parents in Education
A new publication by the U.S. Department of Education profiles five parent information and resource centers, including IDRA Texas PIRC, and best practices in parent engagement. View publication here.

IDRA Texas PIRC Director Profiled
The director of the IDRA Texas PIRC, Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., was profiled in an interview in Our Children magazine. Our Children has provided the pdf version of the article for view here.

  Opportunity Matters, IDRA 2011 Annual Report
IDRA’s latest annual report tells stories of our work through three strategies. (1) With compelling facts, we make the case for quality schools for all; (2) by nurturing sustainable connections, we seek to produce significant results for children; and (3) in promoting courageous leadership, we aim to catalyze action and change that creates quality schooling for all. The pace of human connectivity and information sharing around the globe is now set to double every year. Educational opportunity needs that quickening pace and that exponential growth. 

IDRA’s book, Courage to Connect: A Quality Schools Action Framework™. See how communities and schools can work together to strengthen their capacity to be successful with all of their students. Visit the book’s web page to get a table of contents, excerpt, related podcasts and other resources related to this book. Order your copy today! 

IDRA Classnotes Podcast – conversational audio program with episodes on parent engagement.