IDRA Newsletter
June-July 2025 Issue of the IDRA Newsletter – Focus: Community Voices Matter
Articles
A Message from Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA President Emerita
Legislature Dances the Texas Three-Step: Defund, Demonize, Privatize Public Education, by Kaci Wright, M.Ed., & Vivek Datla, MPA
Policy Whiplash in Georgia – The 2025 Session Delivered Education Gains, Losses and Looming Threats, by Terrence Wilson, J.D., Mikayla Arciaga, M.A.Ed., DeAndrea Byrd, Isabelle Philip & Makiah Lyons, J.D.
Civic Changemakers – Students and Advocates Join Forces at the Georgia Capitol, by Isabelle Philip
Coalitions Represent Communities Across the U.S. South
State Lawmakers Should Consider High-Quality Bilingual Education as an Early Literacy Strategy
Oct 29, 2024• By Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.• IDRA Newsletter • October 2024 • Texas state lawmakers meet every other year in … read more
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Schools Struggle to Hold On to Students – Preview of IDRA’s 38th Annual Texas Public School Attrition Study
Oct 29, 2024• By Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, M.Ed., & Joanna Sánchez, Ph.D.• IDRA Newsletter • October 2024 • Texas high schools lost 22% … read more
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Our Vision, Policy Direction and the Election – Federal Policy Update
Oct 29, 2024• By Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • October 2024 • Over the past several years, IDRA has built on … read more
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Celebrating Student Leadership
Sep 30, 2024• IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • We are excited and honored to share this edition of the IDRA Newsletter … read more
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Since I Became a Tutor
Sep 30, 2024• By Michelle Villegas, High School Junior • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • Since I became a tutor Since … read more
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Stop School District Funding Injustice
Sep 30, 2024• By Mikel Quesada, High School Senior • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • All across Texas, students and teachers … read more
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School Districts Must Prioritize their Students’ Mental Health
Sep 30, 2024• By Turner, College Freshman • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • Students’ mental health is important to me because … read more
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Addressing Teacher Burnout and More – Reflections from My Teacher Survey
Sep 30, 2024• By Diego Aranguiz Mourgues, High School Senior • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • As a part of IDRA’s … read more
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Students Deserve Religious Holidays Off
Sep 30, 2024• By Inayah Naqvi, High School Senior • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • Growing up in a Muslim household … read more
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Books Are for Learning, Not Banning
Sep 30, 2024• By Grace Ding, High School Junior • IDRA Newsletter • September 2024 • Growing up in the South, I … read more
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Restorative Practices Can Prevent and Heal Bias-based Harm
Aug 29, 2024• By Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • August 2024 • Every year, millions of students experience harmful bias-based … read more
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Severe Implications of the Loper Bright Decision for Education and Civil Rights – 2024 U.S. Supreme Court Recap
Aug 29, 2024• By Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • August 2024 • The latest U.S. Supreme Court term has been … read more
Read MoreGroundbreaking New Law Review Article Explores “Youth Dignity Takings” and How to Remedy Them
Aug 29, 2024“Today, systemically marginalized youth face a crisis of belonging in democracy,” argue four co-authors of a new law review article … read more
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IDRA and Partners Successfully Protect Access to Diverse and Rigorous Coursework
Aug 14, 2024• by Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Federal Education Policy Update • August 15, 2024 IDRA and partner organizations worked … read more
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Youth-Centered Programs Help to Bridge the Digital Divide in Underserved Communities
Aug 14, 2024• by Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Federal Education Policy Update • August 15, 2024 In December 2023, IDRA and … read more
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Stand Up for Students – Free Equity Policy Tools for Advocates – IDRA Launches SEEN Model Policy Shop
Jul 30, 2024• IDRA Newsletter • June-July 2024 • In the face of laws and school board actions that harm students, IDRA … read more
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Students Bridge the Digital Divide in Colonias – Highlights from IDRA’s Pilot Student Digital Ambassadorships
Jul 30, 2024• By Michelle Vega & Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, M.Ed. • IDRA Newsletter • June-July 2024 • As Doña Lupe hesitatingly … read more
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Re-engaging Students as Leaders – IDRA Youth Leadership Now Shows Powerful Strategies
Jul 30, 2024• By Hector Bojorquez • IDRA Newsletter • June-July 2024 • While student disengagement and absenteeism were problems before the … read more
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Texas Gets Closer to Adopting a Bilingual Special Education Teacher Certificate
Jul 30, 2024• By Lizdelia Piñón, Ed.D. • IDRA Newsletter • June-July 2024 • In Texas, the education landscape is quickly evolving, … read more
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IDRA Valued Youth Partnership Tutors Win Reflection Contest Awards
May 24, 2024• IDRA Newsletter • May 2024 • Tutors Share Stories of the Program’s Impact on Their Lives Ten students received … read more
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