IDRA Launches Community-Informed Resources for Counselors and Schools Amid Shifts in Diversity Laws
Key takeaways
- Free toolkits help counselors and schools support students’ transition to college.
- Resources are designed to help as students face challenges created by changing diversity policies.
- Materials include student leadership, family guides and college planning tools.
- Tools are informed by students, families and school counselors.
- Available online in English and Spanish for immediate use.
Resource from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), a nonprofit advancing education equity.
(San Antoino • April 23, 2026) High school students need clear support to get to college, especially as changes to diversity policies created new challenges to an already confusing process for students and families.
The new resources in IDRA’s Community-Based College Access – Online Technical Assistance Toolkit provide practical tools schools can use now to help students transition to college.
Informed by focus groups and roundtable conversations with students, families and school counselors, the new toolkits help counselors and students navigate recent policy changes limiting diversity, equity and inclusion affecting college admissions.
The materials include steps for setting up a college ambassador program, video demo with tips for searching for college information, growth mindset activities, family college knowledge guide, college fair prep tips, YouTube Shorts playlists by students and more.
The materials are available online for free and in Spanish.
IDRA grounded the tools in our latest research on the effects of recent policy changes on college-going students and the growing strain on school counselors’ time and capacity.
Designed for school counselors, these toolkits are also valuable for teachers, principals, college advisers and student support staff who help students plan for life after high school.
Learn more about IDRA’s college access study on the impact of diversity, equity and inclusion restrictions. See the preliminary report: A Community-Based Study on the Impact of Texas’ SB 17 on Marginalized College-Going Students, by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.
This project builds on IDRA’s series of Ready Texas studies. The latest found Texas counselors do not have enough time to actually counsel with students, particularly for college and career advising.
FAQs
What are the college access toolkits?
IDRA’s Community-Based College Access toolkits are free online resources designed to help schools support students and families through the transition to college.
Who should use these toolkits?
The toolkits are designed for school counselors and are also useful for teachers, principals, college advisers and student support staff.
What do the toolkits include?
Materials include guides for student ambassador programs, family college knowledge resources, college planning activities, student-created videos and more.
Why were these toolkits developed?
The toolkits respond to challenges students and families face navigating college access, especially amid changes to diversity policies and limited counselor capacity.
Are the resources available in Spanish?
Yes. The toolkits are available online in English and Spanish to support broader access for students and families.
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