IDRA’s Knowledge is Power is a national resource for educators and advocates to help you do your work for equity and excellence in education in the midst of classroom censorship policies.
Sign up to receive Knowledge is Power email alerts!
Edition #25: February 12, 2024 – English • Español
In this edition…
- Texas Censorship Law Leads to New Rubric for State-Approved Instructional Materials
- State Board of Education Punts Course Adoption Consideration for American Indian/Native Studies
- Get free lesson plans on IDRA’s School Resource Hub
How has classroom censorship affected you?
Educator Survey • Student Survey • Family Survey (English) • Family Survey (Español)
We All Belong – School Resource Hub
IDRA’s hub of resources is designed for educators, families and policy advocates, particularly in the U.S. South, who want to make sure students receive a strong, truthful education in our public schools. This hub provides and curates lesson plans, instructional best practices, historical resources, policy updates and data maps to support educators and advocates who want to promote culturally-sustaining schools and fight harmful censorship policies.
Go to hub!
Tools
- Video Gallery: Student Testimony Against Classroom Censorship
- What Texas’ Classroom Censorship Law Means for Students & Schools (PDF) • Español
- Resource page on how SB 3 limits speech and engagement in Texas classrooms – plus news about community advocacy against classroom censorship.
- What Does Georgia’s House Bill 1084 Do?
- What Virginia’s Anti-Equity Executive Order 1 and Reports Mean for K-12 Schools and Students – A Guide for School Leaders
Earlier Editions of Knowledge is Power
Edition #24: September 26, 2023 – English • Español
In this edition…
- What Texas’ New Book Banning Law Means for School Libraries and Student Books
- Texas’ New High-Quality Instructional Materials Law is Tangled in Classroom Censorship
- The Real Impact of Banning African American Studies
- Hispanic Heritage Month – In the Classroom (IDRA’s We All Belong ~ School Resource Hub)
Special for Brown v. Board of Education Anniversary: May 17, 2023
- Reactions to Brown Ruling Led to Breakdown in Teacher Diversity, by Makiah Lyons, IDRA Knowledge is Power
Edition #23: February 16, 2023 – English • Español
- Recognizing Freedom to Learn National Day of Action
- The Texas Legislature Advances Censorship from Pre-K to Higher Education
- Teaching about Race & Culture
Special eNews edition #2 for Black History Month: February 24, 2023
- It Takes a Village to Change the World
- 33 Years Later, Tough on Crime Still Bad for Students
- Black History through Music, Art, Song & Dance
- Bans on Black Literature and Learning are Nothing New – State Lawmakers Must Reject Calls to Reinstate Antebellum-era Policies
- Get Classroom Lessons in IDRA’s We All Belong – School Resource Hub
Edition #23: February 16, 2023 – English • Español
- Texas Lawmakers Propose Laws to Support Black Students, History and Heritage
- PolitiFact: Are Texas schools required to teach Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’?
- Georgia General Assembly Considers Legislation that Would Support Students
- The Power of Music – A Reflection for Black History Month
- IDRA National Virtual Youth Summit – Feb 23
- Teaching about Race & Culture
Special eNews edition #1 for Black History Month: February 7, 2023
- The Story that Refuses to be Silenced
- Black Student-Centered Policy Agenda
- We Must Do the Right Thing – Honoring the Legacy of a Southern Civil Rights Hero
- Get Classroom Lessons in IDRA’s We All Belong – School Resource Hub
- The Father of Black History – What Carter G. Woodson Continues to Teach Us About Our Present Moment
- School Segregation through Vouchers – What Policymakers Can Learn from a History of State Efforts to Use Vouchers to Avoid Integration
- Owning Our History – Henrietta Wood’s Story
- IDRA History Snapshot
Edition #22: November 3, 2022 – English • Español
In this edition…
- The Texas State Board of Education Needs to Hear from Civics Education Advocates to Teach the Truth
- Just Out! Lemonada Media Podcast Episode: Fighting Back Against Classroom Censorship
- Webinar Recordings for Educators Now Available On-Demand
- IDRA Launches New CulturED Lesson Plan Series for Teaching about Race & Culture
- Survey on the Effects of Classroom Censorship
Edition #21: October 19, 2022 – English • Español
In this edition…
- Banned Book Week Activities
- Back a Book! Social Media Challenge
- Webinar for Students: Give Book Bans the Boot
- Webinar: The Censored Classroom: Why Book Bans and Restrictive Policies Hurt Us All
- Webinar: Strategies for Using Books to Promote SEL
- Survey on the Effects of Classroom Censorship
- Get Free Classroom Lessons on IDRA’s We All Belong ~ School Resource Hub
Edition #20: September 16, 2022 – English
In this edition…
- Banned Books Week activities
Edition #19: September 8, 2022 – English • Español
In this edition…
- Texas State Board of Education Votes to Keep Outdated Social Studies Standards and Delay New Ethnic Studies, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.
- Get Free Classroom Lessons on IDRA’s We All Belong ~ School Resource Hub
- Webinar: The Censored Classroom: Why Book Bans and Restrictive Policies Hurt Us All
- Webinar Recording: Tools for Teaching in a Climate of Classroom Censorship
- Survey on the Effects of Classroom Censorship
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #18: August 19, 2022 – English • Español
In this edition…
- Keller ISD Latest School District to Censor Books
- 17 States Have Classroom Censorship Policie – IDRA Presents Preliminary Findings Showing Negative Impact of Classroom Censorship
- Other Policy News: A Call for Authentic School Family Engagement; Texas Board Considers Ethnic Studies Expansion
- Webinar: Tools for Teaching in a Climate of Classroom Censorship
- Survey on the Effects of Classroom Censorship
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #17: May 20, 2022 – English • Español
In this edition…
- Censorship Policies Undermine Excellent and Equitable Public Schools, Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D.
- Texas State Board of Education Considers Social Studies Standards
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #16: May 5, 2022 – English • Español
- Letters Demand Books Returned to Shelves in Four School Districts, Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D.
- What is in Georgia’s Classroom Censorship Law
- Censorship Laws Don’t Support Student’s Real Needs – Student Testimony, Alex Ames
- Cultivating Conscientization in the Classroom – Webinar May 11
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #15: April 22, 2022 – English • Español
- Georgia Assembly Approves Classroom Censorship, Terrence Wilson, J.D.
- Using Textured Teaching in the Culturally Sustaining Classroom, Stephanie Garcia, Ph.D. & Dr. Lizdelia Piñón
- The Power of Student Activism Today Draws from 50 Years Ago, Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed.
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #14: April 7, 2022 – English • Español
Edition #13: March 17, 2022 – English • Español
- Students Speak Out Against Classroom Censorship, Terrence Wilson, J.D.
- “Equity” is Not Racism, Paula Johnson, Ph.D.
- IDRA Launches ‘Southern Education Equity Network’ to Support Family & Community Advocates, Paula Johnson, Ph.D.
- Books Empower Us to Radically Hope, Michelle Castillo, Ed.M.
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #12: March 3, 2022 – English • Español
- Southern School Censorship News Round-up, Morgan Craven, J.D.
- Revolutionizing School Equity through Disaggregated Data, Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, M.Ed.
- A Note About How to Respond to Anti-equality and Anti-inclusion Policies
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #11: February 17, 2022 – English • Español
- Students Testify Against Classroom Censorship in Georgia, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D. ,& Irene Gomez, Ed.M.
- Your Story Matters – Share How Classroom Censorship Laws are Impacting Your Community, Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D.
- Using Primary Resources as Points of Truth, Michelle Martínez Vega
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #10: February 3, 2022 – English • Español
- How Texas’ Newest Censorship Bill Applies to School Activities – New Guide to Texas Censorship Bill, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D. ,& Irene Gomez, Ed.M.
- Today’s Attacks on Students’ Civil Rights Echo Earlier Attacks on Bilingual Education, Lizdelia Piñón, Ed.D.
- Fighting Classroom Censorship in Georgia – Analysis of New Bills, Terrence Wilson, J.D.
- Fighting Classroom Censorship in Georgia – Georgia Coalition Against Classroom Censorship Statement, Terrence Wilson, J.D.
- Advocacy Tools
Edition #9: January 20, 2022 – English • Español
- Organizing Against Classroom Censorship, Michelle Castillo, Ed.M.
- Families Must be Centered in Education Policymaking, Not Used as Puppets
- New Advocacy Guide: Lessons Learned from our Classroom Censorship Advocacy
- The Importance of Teaching All Truths (Lesson Plan Part 2), Hector Bojorquez
- Building Supportive Schools from the Ground Up (PDF)
Edition #8: December 15, 2021 – English • Español
- Communities List their Priorities for Federal Funds to Build Supportive Schools, Morgan Craven, J.D.
- War on Obscenity is Classroom Censorship on Another Front, Mikayla Arciaga, M.A.Ed.
- Educator Survey about Classroom Censorship
Edition #7: December 2, 2021 – English • Español
- Georgia School Leaders Provide Counter Measures to Classroom Censorship Efforts, Terrence Wilson, J.D.
- Get Involved in Changes to the Texas Social Studies Standards, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.
- The Importance of Teaching All Truths (Part 1), Hector Bojorquez
- Educator Survey about Classroom Censorship
Edition #6: November 18, 2021 – English • Español
- Show Us Your… Books? The Latest Texas Efforts to Censor Classrooms, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.
- Health Textbooks Should Acknowledge Importance of Gender Identity and Sexuality
- IDRA Extends Education Policy Fellow Program to Georgia
- Teacher Survey about Classroom Censorship
Edition #5: November 10, 2021 – English • Español
- Podcast interview: Students Want Schools to Teach Inclusive Truth
- Teacher Survey about Classroom Censorship
- Invitation: Community Conversation about Equity in Civics Education
Edition #4: October 13, 2021 – English • Español
- We Can and Must Talk about Racism in Classroom Lessons, Hector Bojorquez
- Students Want School to be Relevant and Inclusive
- Schools Should Teach the Truth – A Letter from a Parent, Dr. Lizette Goodloe
Edition #3: September 29, 2021 – English • Español
Edition #2: September 16, 2021 – English • Español
- Equity is a True American Ideal, Hector Bojorquez
- Educators! Tell us how classroom censorship policies and proposals are affecting your school!
- Expansive Classroom Censorship Bill Filed in Florida, Morgan Craven, J.D.
- Tennessee Censorship Policy Serves as Warning to Other States, Terrence Wilson, J.D.
- Texas SB 3 Makes New Changes to Social Studies Learning Standards, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.
Edition #1: September 2, 2021 – English • Español
- School Censorship Policies Sweep through the South, Terrence Wilson, J.D. •
- Obscuring the Truth – The Evolving Efforts Against Critical Race Theory, Haley Gray & Salih Cevik
- What the Texas Classroom Censorship Bill Means for Schools, Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.
- Student Testimony Excerpt: Let’s Talk about Our Entire History, Ric Galvan
