November-December issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: School Holding Power 

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Articles

Texas Higher Education Law Aims to Improve Outcomes for Students in Developmental Education, by Bricio Vasquez, Ph.D.

Three Guiding Principles for Removing College Readiness Barriers in School Policies and Practices, by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., and Hector Bojorquez

Texas Public School Attrition Study Highlights, 2018-19 – Attrition Rate Down to 21%, But Texas High Schools Lost Over 88,000 Students Last Year, by Roy L. Johnson, M.S.

Valued Youth Partnership Tutor on the Importance of Being Able to Ask Questions in School, by Emaje’ Williams, Odessa High School, Ector County ISD, Texas

Extras

College Bound and Determined

Teens Win 2019 National Essay Contest Awards 


October issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Gender Justice

“Student safety is foundational to student learning. Gender-based injustice and discrimination against LGBTQ students are not just harmful to students’ well-being; they also have long-lasting academic and societal impacts”  

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

Making Schools Safe Learning Havens for LGBTQ Students, by Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D., & Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed.

Discipline Strategies to Combat Faulty Assumptions that Target Black Male Youth, by Daryl V. Williams, Ed.D.

Strategies for Increasing Girls’ Participation in STEM, by Paula Johnson, Ph.D., & Michelle Vega

In Memoriam – William S. White, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Extras

eBook: Girls and STEM Education – Research Overview and Resources

Infographic: School Climate Affects LGBTQ Student Well-being

Resource List for Supporting LGBTQ Students


September issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: School Leadership

“Principals who foster culturally-sustaining instruction and welcoming school climates show the community, through concrete action, that they believe all students and families are valuable.”  

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

Superintendent Dr. Daniel King Describes How Strong Family Leadership Leads to School Innovation, by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., featuring Superintendent Daniel King, Ph.D.

Five Best Practices for Effective Principals and School Leadership Teams, by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D.

Mexican American Studies in All Grades – Administering an Innovation, by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed.

English Learner Success Depends on Strong Principal Leadership, by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D.

Extras

5 Steps on How to Start an Education CAFE – Infographic

10 Strategies for How Schools Should Respond to Help Children Impacted by ICE Raids – Infographic

Mexican American Studies – IDRA Services

Family Engagement Online Assistance Package – Infographic

IDRA EAC-South Family Engagement Web-based Technical Assistance Package


August 2019 Issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Student Voice

“Students must have a seat at the table to inform the direction of initiatives that impact them, their families and the broader community.”  

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

Steps for Helping Students Become Activists – A Teen’s Advice, by Melivia Mujia

Building a STEM Identity through the Chief Science Officer Program, by Lexis Ratto & Kelly O’Kane

The Day I Taught My High School Peers, by Alyssa Diaz

How Student-Led Lessons Impacted My Understanding of School, by Daniela Herrejon

High School Tutor Learns While Tutoring Others, by Anahi Ortiz

Students as Co-Collaborators in Teaching & Learning – Advice from the Field, by Andres López

Extras

Steps to Promoting Student Activism – Infographic

Student Activists in High School – Classnotes Podcast #191– Interview with Melivia Mujia and Evany Gonzales

Teens Win 2019 National Essay Contest Awards 

Mexican American Studies – IDRA Services

Teacher Adapts Curricula to Circumvent Institutional Discrimination – Podcast Episode 183 –Interview featuring Andres López


June-July 2019 Issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Education Policy

“Ensuring all students graduate prepared to succeed in college requires effective policymaking hand-in-hand with the people most impacted by our laws. They hold the policy solutions to improve their lives and effect generational change for themselves and our society.”  

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President &CEO

IDRA Newsletter June July 2019 coverSee PDF of this issue

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Articles

Texas Legislature Concentrates on School Funding, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

New Discipline and Safety Policies for Texas, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

Accountability Measures Set to Respond to Public Pressure – Changes Made to STAAR; Individual Graduation Committees Extended, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

College Access Legislation Increases Transparency and Adds Funds to TEXAS Grant Program, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

Education Impact of Supreme Court Decision on Citizenship Question – IDRA Statement on Education Impact of Supreme Court Decision Blocking Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

Taking Steps Toward Keeping the Public in Public Education

Extras

Timeline: A History of IDRA Policy Work to Secure Excellent and Equitable Schooling for All Children


May issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: College Opportunity

“What is good for the children of the most powerful in our society must be the expectation we set for all students.”  

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President &CEO

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Articles

School Counselors Express Concerns about College and Career Advising in Texas, by Hector Bojorquez

Five Best Practices that Add Women to the Equation – Preparing K-12 Girls for Mathematics, by Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D., & Kasia Razynska

Characteristics of College-Focused Schools, by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D.

Extras

Top Ten Percent Plan – Research, Infographic, Resources

#IAmTop10Percent –Share your story!

IDRA Names Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez as the 2019 José A. Cárdenas School Finance Fellow


April issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Early Learning

“Successful early childhood programs take what we know from brain research and provide meaningful reading and writing activities that appeal to children’s eagerness to learn about the world around them. All children benefit when these programs are accessible, well-funded and have well-prepared teachers.”   

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

Current Proposals for Texas’ Investment in English Learners Still Not Enough, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

Fixing Asset-Based Early Childhood Education, by Hector Bojorquez

Building Culturally-Relevant Libraries for Young Learners, by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., and José A. Velázquez, M.Ed.

Extras

Bilingual Literacy Development Materials for Summer

Infographic: Texas Divestment of Public Education

IDRA’s Bilingual Allotment Dashboard


March issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Fair Discipline

“To respond to horrific school shootings by pushing students into the school-to-prison pipeline and undercutting their civil rights only begets further tragedy.”                           

– Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

Federal School Safety Commission Recommendations Could Lead to Less Safe Schools, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

Three Approaches for Dismantling Discriminatory Discipline in Schools, by Paula N. Johnson, Ph.D., & José A. Velázquez, M.Ed.

Discipline Policies Must Not Come at the Expense of Any Group of Students, by Morgan Craven, J.D.

Restorative Practices – Informal and Formal Processes for Addressing Behavior, by Paula N. Johnson, Ph.D.

Extras

Principles for School Safety, Privacy, and Equity

In Memoriam – Mr. William Acosta


February issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Purposeful Governance

“IDRA will continue to work with our allies in the civil rights community to protect students and strengthen education by drawing on our unique ability to bridge policy, with practice, with teacher and principal training, and, most importantly, with community engagement, because families must be at the table.”                                                                   – Celina Moreno, J.D., IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

New IDRA CEO Carries on IDRA’s Legacy and Future, by Celina Moreno, J.D.

Meet Morgan Craven – IDRA’s National Director of Policy

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 Released

Red Flags Wave in Proposed Changes to Title IX – Gender Equity in Schools Needs Diligence not Relaxation, by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed.

The Attrition Rates for Poor Students is 29 Times Higher than for other Texas Students, IDRA Texas School Attrition Study, 2017-18

Extras

Annual IDRA La Semana del Niño Parent Institute on April 5 in San Antonio

See up-to-date news on Texas school finance at IDRA’s online dashboard


January issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This month’s focus: Data for Actionable Knowledge

“Real, lasting change in schools comes when people are engaged at all levels, from state capitols to board rooms, from classrooms to community centers and kitchen tables, and where people have the knowledge they need to take the right steps on behalf of all children.”                                                                  – Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA President & CEO

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Articles

Office for Civil Rights Data Reveals Patterns of Inequity, by Bricio Vasquez, Ph.D.

Using Data to Uncover Facts for Strengthening Education, by Bricio Vasquez, Ph.D., and Hector Bojorquez

Family Leadership in Education Projects… and the Data that Drives Them, by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed.

Corazón, A Poem for María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, by Laurie Posner, MPA

José A. Cárdenas School Finance Fellows Program Call for Applications from 2019 – Due March 22, 2019

Extras

IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 Released – IDRA issued a call for attention to seven key policy issues that are essential to the state providing an excellent and equitable education for all children in the state.

José A. Cárdenas School Finance Fellows Program Call for Applications from 2019 – Due March 22, 2019

Annual IDRA La Semana del Niño Parent Institute – Save the Date: April 5, 2019

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