Education Policy

The U.S. Congress plays a pivotal role in helping states achieve this goal as it considers reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). IDRA’s track record in educational pedagogy, research and policy on behalf of minority and at-risk school children and emerging communities forms a strong basis for its policy recommendations at the…

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 See PDF version (one page) See PDF version (with resource links)   Fair Funding that Ensures Equity and Excellence for All Students IDRA Stands All state and local aid made available for public schools should be funded through equalized formulas. Efforts to reduce recapture must be done equitably.…

The Texas Latino Education Coalition (TLEC) is a collaborative of organizations and individuals who advocate the rights of Latinos at the local, state and national levels. The coalition was organized to focus specifically on critical educational issues in Texas and improve the state of education for Latino students in public schools. Its education agenda is…

A child's future should not depend on his or her heritage, parents' income or neighborhood. Our sense of justice insists that America be the land of opportunity where all citizens are considered equal, that wherever a student comes from or lives he or she should have the opportunity to succeed. All children must have access to…

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 IDRA Stands Ensure school safety and foster positive school climates by providing critical funds and supporting research-based programs and school-based professionals, like counselors and social workers. Eliminate harmful, unnecessary exclusionary discipline and policing practices inside schools. Make sure the same high-quality curriculum is available in all schools to…

Keeping the Public in Public Schools IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 IDRA Stands Public money must have public oversight and must not be diverted to private interests. There must be no further expansion of charter schools and limited public funds for facilities should not be siphoned off for charter schools. Why? The best…

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 Effective Accountability that Puts Children First and Supports Schools IDRA Stands The state’s accountability system should be supportive, moving away from rigid, punitive structures. The state should collect some valid testing data and other performance measures to enable it to hold schools accountable for student achievement with data…

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 Testing that Doesn’t Hurt Children IDRA Stands No single measure should be used to make high-stakes decisions for promotion or graduation. The state should continue to graduate students who prove their well-rounded academic qualifications to independent graduation committees (IGCs). Why? Reliance on a single measure fails to consider…

IDRA English Learning Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 IDRA Stands Laws requiring bilingual education programs in elementary schools must remain, and exceptions must be strongly discouraged. And ELs in secondary schools must have access to teachers who are trained in EL instruction. The state should modify its procedures for monitoring EL performance by disaggregating…

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 IDRA Stands Texas’ high school curriculum should prepare all students for college with high-quality, rigorous courses. Students should not be tracked into low-level courses nor into different diploma routes or graduation plans. In-state tuition rates for all Texas students, including undocumented immigrant students, must remain. Funding for need-based…

After years of research and practice have demonstrated the failure of student tracking policies, Texas has returned to the practice under the guise of helping unsuccessful students be able to earn a minimal diploma. But the state of Texas is responsible for ensuring that all students have equal access to a high quality education and…

School Holding Power Texas schools are losing 11 students per hour Nationally, our schools are losing one of every four students. This lack of school holding power affects every one of us. With the magnitude of this loss, what is needed is a seismic shift from dropout prevention to graduation for all. And all must mean all.…

Immigrant Students’ Rights to Attend Public Schools Public schools, by law, must serve all children. The education of undocumented students is guaranteed by the Plyler vs. Doe Supreme Court decision, and certain procedures must be followed when registering immigrant children in school to avoid violation of their civil rights. As a result of the U.S. Supreme…

Teaching Quality Success in school means having quality teachers, i.e., teachers who know their subject, who know effective instructional practices and who value their students. Unfortunately, many students – particularly those who are in poor schools or high-minority schools – do not have access to enough of these teachers. Some schools do not provide quality…

IDRA’s Quality Schools Action Framework™ shows how we can strengthen public education for all students. The framework – or theory of change – is grounded in school reform research and practice. Developed by IDRA president and CEO Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, it asserts that: Though often neglected, coalition-building and community capacity-building are critical change strategies in improving…