IDRA Newsletter
January 2026 issue of the IDRA Newsletter – Focus: Student Leadership in Education
Articles
Discipline Disparities Push Black Girls Out of Classrooms – IDRA Youth-Led Study Examines Discipline in Atlanta-area Schools, by Makiah Lyons, J.D.
Students Claim Their Place in Education Policy – IDRA Civic Changemakers Equips Students to Speak Their Truth to Power, by Mikayla Arciaga, M.A.Ed.
Students Weigh the Promise and Challenges of Big College Readiness Initiative, by Hector Bojorquez
How Schools Should Support Children Impacted by ICE Raids
Extras
IDRA Civic Changemakers – see videos of students testifying and their reflection interviews
IDRA infographic: 10 Strategies for How Schools Should Support Children Impacted by ICE Raids (Available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese)
IDRA infographic: Welcoming Immigrant Students in School (Available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese)
Resources on supporting immigrant students, including the Texas K-12 Educators’ Toolkit and sample school district resolutions
IDRA Model Policy on Identity-based Bullying – package includes a policy brief, model policy for state-level legislation, school board policy and an advocacy guide
Bullying and Harassment in Texas Schools Policy Recommendations – IDRA Issue Brief
Interrupting Bullying and Harassment in Schools – Online Technical Assistance Toolkit
What the President’s Directive to the U.S. Secretary of Education Means for Students, Families and Schools
Mar 26, 2025• By Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • March 2025 • On March 3, 2025, Linda McMahon was sworn … read more
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Adrian and Zariah Reflect on Their Activism and Concerns
Mar 17, 2025• By Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. • March 2025 • A few days after the board meeting where students Adrian … read more
Read MoreFrom Petition to Podium – Students Urge School Board to Protect Immigrant Student Safety
Mar 17, 2025• By Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. • March 2025 • At a recent school board meeting, two high school seniors … read more
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A Flurry of Executive Actions Causes Confusion in Schools and Communities
Feb 28, 2025By Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Federal Education Law and Policy Update • February 28, 2025 • Executive actions, which … read more
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Students, Schools, and Service Organizations Continue to Be Harmed by Federal Funding Freeze – Rule of Law Prevails in Court, But Not in Practice
Feb 28, 2025By Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D. • IDRA Federal Education Law and Policy Update • February 28, 2025 • On January 27, … read more
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New U.S. Department of Education Letter Threatens Protections for Students
Feb 28, 2025By Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Federal Education Law and Policy Update • February 28, 2025 • On February 14, … read more
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African Roots, Latin American Soil – In the Classroom, Explore the Vibrant Culture and History of Afro-Latinos
Feb 26, 2025By Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. • February 26, 2025 • Afro-Latino history and culture is a rich and complex topic … read more
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The Power of Black Teachers
Feb 26, 2025By Kaci Wright • February 26, 2025 • I can still remember my one and only Black teacher in public … read more
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Black Girls Can Make History When We Support them in School
Feb 18, 2025• By Morgan Craven, J.D. & Makiah Lyons, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • February 2025 • As Black women at … read more
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New Data Hub Spotlights School Discipline of Black Girls in Georgia
Feb 18, 2025• By Nickell Brown & Makiah Lyons, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • February 2025 • In August of 2024, the … read more
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Confronting Hair Discrimination in Schools – A Call to Honor Black History by Protecting Student Rights
Feb 17, 2025• By Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., Makiah Lyons, J.D., & Tionna Ryan • IDRA Newsletter • February 2025 • As we … read more
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How Schools Should Support Children Impacted by ICE Raids
Jan 30, 2025• IDRA Newsletter • January 2025 • When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducts raids in a community, students … read more
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Strong Schools Depend on Strong Partnerships with Families – Anti-Immigrant Policies Push Families Away
Jan 30, 2025• By Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • January 2025 • All families must be part of building excellent … read more
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All Students, Regardless of Immigration Status, Belong in School – How the Plyler v. Doe U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Protects Students
Jan 30, 2025• By Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • January 2025 • This month, long-standing restrictions on immigration enforcement in … read more
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A Vision for Education in 2025 and Beyond (Excerpt) Educational Opportunities in a Changing Federal Landscape
Dec 30, 2024• By Morgan Craven, J.D. • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2025 • IDRA believes in the inherent value of all … read more
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Commitment to a Strong Future for Georgia Students – IDRA Legislative Priorities for Georgia in 2025-2026
Dec 23, 2024• By Mikayla Arciaga, M.A.Ed. • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2024 • 2025 marks the beginning of a new biennial legislative … read more
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IDRA Newsletter 2024 Index
Dec 23, 2024November-December 2024 Issue of the IDRA Newsletter – This Issue’s Focus: Education Policy for Equity & Excellence See PDF of … read more
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Students First, Strong Public Schools for All – IDRA Priorities for the 2025 Texas Legislative Session
Dec 21, 2024• By Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D. • IDRA Newsletter • November-December 2024 • Texas state lawmakers will kick off the … read more
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Building Student Leadership in Technology – From IDRA Youth Tekies to TechXperts
Oct 29, 2024• By Michelle Martínez Vega & Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. • IDRA Newsletter • October 2024 • Over two decades … read more
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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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