Educator and Student Support

Student Programs

IDRA’s student programs demonstrate our core values that recognize the assets all students bring and that listens to students and engages them both in their own learning and in their leadership to transform schools and communities.

Valued Youth Partnership

The IDRA Valued Youth Partnership is a research-based, internationally-recognized dropout prevention program that has kept 98% of its tutors in school. Created by IDRA, it is an internationally-recognized, cross-age tutoring program with an unusual twist. This dropout prevention program works by identifying junior high and high school students in at-risk situations and enlisting them as tutors for elementary school youngsters who are also struggling in school. Given this role of personal and academic responsibility, the Valued Youth tutors learn self-discipline and develop self-esteem. Schools shift to the philosophy and practices of valuing students considered at-risk. Results show that tutors stay in school, have increased academic performance, improved school attendance and advanced to higher education. VYP also transforms student socio-emotional learning and relationships with school.

VisionCoders

VisionCoders is a new eighth grade computer science course being developed by IDRA in partnership with Texas A&M University–San Antonio and 12 schools in seven Bexar County school districts. In this course, middle school students who are in at-risk situations will become software designers who create educational games for prekindergarten, kindergarten and first grade students. This field-initiated, research-based program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Youth Advisory Board

Ten high school students from across Texas are providing their insights about equity in education and advocacy. Since our founding 49 years ago, IDRA has remained committed to prioritizing students in our decision-making. We selected these 10 student leaders who now form IDRA’s inaugural 2022 Youth Advisory Board.

Texas Chief Science Officers Program

The Chief Science Officer program empowers middle and high school students to enrich school STEM culture and career awareness by bringing STEM/STEAM-related opportunities to their schools and local communities.