Resource Center

IDRA Newsletter 2019

Published 10 times a year, the IDRA Newsletter provides resources and insight for strengthening and transforming public education to serve students from communities that have historically been underserved like Black and Latino students and students from families with limited means. We publish our newsletter in print and online with highlights in our eNews.

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Below are articles published in 2019. To find a particular article or subject this year, see the index below or use the search bar above, which covers all years.

Texas Higher Education Law Aims to Improve Outcomes for Students in Developmental Education

Dec 20, 2019

by Bricio Vasquez, Ph.D. • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2019 • College-level placement in Texas community colleges relies heavily on a … read more

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Three Guiding Principles for Removing College Readiness Barriers in School Policies and Practices

Dec 20, 2019

• Nilka Avilés, Ed.D., and Hector Bojorquez • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2019 • In most circles, the importance of college … read more

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Texas Public School Attrition Study Highlights, 2018-19 – Attrition Rate Down to 21%, But Texas High Schools Lost Over 88,000 Students Last Year

Dec 20, 2019

• Roy L. Johnson, M.S. • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2019 • The latest attrition rate data for Texas public schools … read more

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Valued Youth Partnership Tutor on the Importance of Being Able to Ask Questions in School

Dec 20, 2019

• Emaje’ Williams, Odessa High School, Ector County ISD, Texas • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2019 • One mistake I made … read more

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Making Schools Safe Learning Havens for LGBTQ Students

Oct 31, 2019

• by Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D., & Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. • IDRA Newsletter • October 2019 • LGBTQ students face … read more

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Resources for Supporting LGBTQ Students

Oct 31, 2019

The resource list below is from the article, “Making Schools Safe Learning Havens for LGBTQ Students,” by Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D., … read more

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Discipline Strategies to Combat Faulty Assumptions that Target Black Male Youth

Oct 31, 2019

• by Daryl V. Williams, Ed.D. • IDRA Newsletter • October 2019 • No student group is more or less … read more

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Strategies for Increasing Girls’ Participation in STEM

Oct 31, 2019

• by Paula Johnson, Ph.D., & Michelle Vega • IDRA Newsletter • October 2019 • Underrepresentation of young women in … read more

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In Memoriam – William S. White

Oct 31, 2019

• IDRA Newsletter • October 2019 • One of the longest-serving leaders of a major philanthropy in the United States, … read more

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Superintendent Dr. Daniel King Describes How Strong Family Leadership Leads to School Innovation

Oct 07, 2019

• by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., featuring Superintendent Daniel King, Ph.D. • IDRA Newsletter • September 2019 • The school … read more

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Five Best Practices for Effective Principals and School Leadership Teams

Oct 07, 2019

• by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D. • IDRA Newsletter • September 2019 • Research shows that, in schools, the principal is second … read more

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Mexican American Studies in All Grades – Administering an Innovation

Oct 07, 2019

• by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. • IDRA Newsletter • September 2019 • The effort in Texas to establish the … read more

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English Learner Success Depends on Strong Principal Leadership

Oct 07, 2019

• by Nilka Avilés, Ed.D. • IDRA Newsletter • September 2019 • Demographic changes in recent years have affected not … read more

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Steps for Helping Students Become Activists – A Teen’s Advice

Aug 30, 2019

• by Melivia Mujia • IDRA Newsletter • August 2019 • As a queer Latina student, life has been a … read more

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Building a STEM Identity through the Chief Science Officer Program

Aug 30, 2019

• by Lexis Ratto & Kelly O’Kane • IDRA Newsletter • August 2019 • Editor’s Note: High school students Lexis … read more

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The Day I Taught My High School Peers

Aug 30, 2019

• by Alyssa Diaz • IDRA Newsletter • August 2019 • During my senior year of high school, I had … read more

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How Student-Led Lessons Impacted My Understanding of School

Aug 30, 2019

• by Daniela Herrejon • IDRA Newsletter • August 2019 • I was a great student; however I was not … read more

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Students as Co-Collaborators in Teaching & Learning – Advice from the Field

Aug 30, 2019

• by Andres López • IDRA Newsletter • August 2019 • Andres López, a teacher at Stevens High School in … read more

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High School Tutor Learns While Tutoring Others

Aug 30, 2019

 • by Anahi Ortiz • IDRA Newsletter • August 2019 • I was supposed to be in child development, but … read more

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Accountability Measures Set to Respond to Public Pressure

Jul 30, 2019

• by Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • June-July 2019 • Changes Made to STAAR; Individual Graduation Committees Extended … read more

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