• IDRA Newsletter • March 1999
In this era of school reform and academic excellence for all students regardless of race, sex, national origin and economic level, we are confronted with many challenges as we work to create schools that work for all learners. The Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide assistance to schools. This funding is directed through the nation’s network of equity assistance centers (formerly called, desegregation assistance center). The center that serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas is the IDRA South Central Collaborative for Equity.
Districts are eligible to receive a minimum of two to three days of assistance and training to help them ensure equitable educational opportunity for all learners and to assist all learners in reaching high standards of academic excellence. This assistance and training is free to schools and includes:
- staff development,
- materials development,
- strategic planning,
- classroom demonstrations,
- observations and collaboration,
- focus group and development of team assistance, and
- other forms of assistance as specified by the campuses or districts to meet their local needs.
Additionally, IDRA staff can deliver this assistance and training directly to teachers, administrators, non-certified personnel, parents, students, school board members and members of the community. In order to take advantage of this assistance, school personnel can complete the form at the bottom and send to IDRA by fax (210-444-1710) or mail (IDRA, 5835 Callaghan Road, Suite 350, San Antonio, Texas 78228).
Schools in other states, may receive assistance from the equity assistance center that serves their region (ask IDRA or the US Department of Education for contact information). For more information on the IDRA South Central Collaborative for Equity, contact Bradley Scott, MA, or IDRA (210/444-1710; fax 210/444-1714) or visit the IDRA web site (www.idra.org).
It is important that we work together to give every student an equitable opportunity to achieve. The IDRA equity assistance center is eager to support you in that effort. It is up to you to request the support. Together, we can make a difference for students in schools.
Comments and questions may be directed to IDRA via e-mail at feedback@idra.org.
[©1999, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the March 1999 IDRA Newsletter by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]