Texas Policy Comments & Testimony
IDRA, alongside the Texas Immigration Law Council and a broad coalition of business, faith, educator and student groups, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in U.S. v. Texas to do what Texas state leaders refused to do: defend the Texas Dream Act and the ability of Texas high school graduates to access and succeed in college, regardless of immigration status, October 7, 2025
Texas Students Should be Protected to Pursue and Continue their College Dreams – IDRA Testimony to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on Proposed Rules Changes to Residency Determination (Title 19, Part 1, Ch. 13, Subchapter K, §§13.191–13.203) and Tuition Waivers & Exemptions (§13.465). Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., September 22, 2025
What You Need to Know About the New Texas Law Against Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Public Schools, August 2025
Texas Should Make Comprehensive Investments in School Funding to Serve the Most Students – IDRA Testimony on CSHB 2, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education K-16 Committee, May 15, 2025
Banning Targeted Student Supports Threatens Their Educational Opportunities – IDRA Testimony Against SB 12, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, May 13, 2025 • See video
SB 12 Undermines Schools’ Ability to Address Educational Disparities – TLEEC Testimony Against SB 12, submitted by Vivek Datla to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, May 13, 2025 • See video
Policymakers Must Strengthen Student and Parent Due Process Rights, Not Make it Easier to Push Out Students – IDRA Written Testimony Against CSHB 6 Submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, May 8, 2025 • See video
Zero Tolerance Discipline Has Not and Will Not Help Texas Students, Families or Teachers – IDRA Written Testimony Against HB 6, submitted by Kaci Wright, to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, May 8, 2025 • See video
Library Councils Could Lead to One-Sided Censorship of Student Learning – IDRA Testimony against SB 13, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, May 6, 2025
SB 37 Lowers Quality of Texas Higher Education – TLEEC Testimony Against SB 37, submitted by Vivek Datla to the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, May 6, 2025 • See video
Teachers in High-Need Fields Need Supports – IDRA Testimony on SB 27, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, May 6, 2025
IDRA Testimony on SB 1414, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, May 1, 2025 • See video
IDRA Testimony on HB 1405, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, April 29, 2025 • See video
Changes to the Texas Dream Act Would Discourage and Dissuade Texas Students from College Dreams – IDRA Testimony against CSHB 232, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, April 29, 2025
CSHB 232 Harms College Opportunities for Texas Students – TLEEC Testimony Against CSHB 232, submitted by Vivek Datla to the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, April 29, 2025
Access to Higher Education Promotes a Just and Prosperous Texas – IDRA Testimony against SB 1798, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, April 22, 2025 • See video
Texas Dual Language Funding Should Stay in Programs with Certified Teachers – IDRA Testimony on HB 3460, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, April 22, 2025
Ethnic Studies is Beneficial and in High Demand for High School Students – IDRA Testimony for HB 178, Submitted by Kaci Wright to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 22, 2025 • See video
SB 1798 Harms College Opportunities for Texas Students – TLEEC Testimony Against Senate Bill 1798, submitted by Vivek Datla to the Texas Senate K-16 Education Committee, April 22, 2025 • See video
Texas Dual Language Programs Should Have Certified Teachers and More Program Support – IDRA Testimony on SB 2185, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, April 8, 2025
The Texas Seal of Biliteracy is a Strategy for College and Career Success – IDRA Testimony for HB 1579, Submitted to the Texas House Subcommittee on Advanced and Career-Oriented Education by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., April 3, 2025
Stronger Bilingual Education Programs Are Key Strategy for Student Success –IDRA Testimony for HB 1581, Submitted to the Texas House Subcommittee on Advanced and Career-Oriented Education by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., April 3, 2025 • See video
Schools Must be Accountable for Unlawful Discipline – IDRA Testimony against SB 1874, Submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, March 25, 2025 • See video
Addressing Chronic Absenteeism is Critical to Addressing Attrition of Texas Students – IDRA Written Testimony for SB 991, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Senate Committee on Education K-16, March 25, 2025
Teachers and Students Need More Support, Not Broader Removal Permissions that Leave Behavior Unaddressed – IDRA Testimony against SB 27, Submitted by Kaci Wright to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, March 25, 2025
Support Texas Students, Not the School-to-Prison Pipeline – IDRA Written Testimony Against SB 1871, SB 1872, SB 1873 and SB 1874 Submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, March 25, 2025
Criminalizing Youth is a Failed Policy That Hurts Students, Families, and School Communities – IDRA Written Testimony Against SB 1924 and SB 1925 Submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, March 25, 2025
SB 37 Will Harm Students’ Development as Critical Thinkers – TLEEC Testimony Against Senate Bill 37, submitted by Vivek Datla to the Texas Senate K-16 Education Committee, March 20, 2025 • See video
Zero Tolerance Discipline Has Not and Will Not Help Texas Students, Families or Teachers – IDRA Testimony Against HB 6, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, March 18, 2025 • See video
Defining and Monitoring Chronic Absenteeism is Critical to Addressing Attrition of Texas Students – Education Justice Advocates Joint Written Testimony for HB 213, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, March 18, 2025 • See video
Voucher Systems are Unfair and Unconstitutional – IDRA Invited Testimony against HB 3, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, March 11, 2025 • See video
Students Should Receive Language Protections and Programs in Any State-Funded Education System – IDRA Testimony Against HB 3, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, March 11, 2025 • See video
Education Saving Accounts Harm Efforts to Fully Fund Public Schools – TLEEC Testimony Against House Bill 3, submitted by Kaci Wright to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 11, 2025 • See video
Investing in Compensatory and Bilingual Education is Key to Advancing State Goals for Student Success – IDRA Invited Testimony on HB 2, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 4, 2025 • See video
Book Bans are Undemocratic and Unconstitutional – IDRA Testimony against SB 13, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, February 27, 2025
District Censorship Requirements Threaten Students’ Educational Opportunities – IDRA Testimony against SB 12, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, February 27, 2025 • See video
Education Savings Accounts are Inefficient and Ineffective for General Diffusion of Knowledge, Student Achievement and School Investments – IDRA Testimony against SB 2, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, January 28, 2025 • See video
Don’t Prioritize Politics and Profits Over the Families Policymakers Should Be Representing – Testimony Against Senate Bill 2, Presented by Lizdelia Piñón, IDRA Education Associate, to the Texas Senate Committee on Education (PK-16), January 28, 2025 (Plus testimony by Sixth Grader, Felicita Piñón) • See Dr. Piñin video • See Felicita video
Education Saving Accounts Harm Texas Students’ Access to an Equitable Education – TLEEC Testimony Against Senate Bill 2, submitted by Kaci Wright to the Texas Senate Committee on K-16 Education, January 28, 2025 • See video
