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The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Welcoming School Climates." Contents include: (1) Welcoming and Safe Schools Require Authentic Relationship Building (Morgan Craven); (2) Texas School District Becomes First to Adopt Policy to Prevent Identity-based Bullying; (3) 70th Anniversary of "Brown v. Board of Education"; (4) The Value of Integrating STEM, the Arts and Ethnic Studies (Aurelio Montemayor, Stephanie Garcia, & Asaiah Puente); and (5) IDRA Valued Youth Partnership Tutors Win Reflection Contest Awards --Tutors Share Stories of the Program's Impact on Their Lives.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Language Rights." Contents include: (1) Navigating Policy Landscapes for Linguistic and Cultural Equity (Morgan Craven & Lizdelia Piñón); (2) Language Rights are Civil Rights -- 50th Anniversary of the "Lau v. Nichols" Ruling (Paige Duggins-Clay); (3) AI as a Tool for Inclusive Bilingual Education (Lizdelia Piñón); and (4) Transnational Students Deserve a High-Quality Education on Both Sides of the Border (Rebekah Skelton).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "School Safety." Contents include: (1) Students Demand Safe, Supportive Schools: Student Authors Call for Ending Zero Tolerance and School-Based Policing (Paige Duggins-Clay); (2) Where Some Policymakers and School Leaders Get School Safety Wrong (Morgan Craven); (3) Thirty Years Later, the 1994 Gun-Free Schools Act Continues to Harm Students and Communities (Rebekah Skelton); and (4) IDRA Names Youth Advisory Board Members: Five High School Students Serve as Advisors for Education Equity Initiatives While Learning New Skills.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Research." Contents include: (1) Mexican American Studies -- A Deep Look by High School Students (Marcela Hernández, Jonas Lokensgard & Hannah Rosales); (2) Embedding Social-Emotional Learning into Student-Serving Programs (Stephanie García); (3) IDRA Youth Advisory Board Members Study Culturally Responsive Teaching and School Discipline (Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz); and (4) New Texas School Finance Data Maps.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "College Readiness and Success." Contents include: (1) Texas School Counselors Point to Troubling State of College Advising: IDRA Studies the Role of Middle School Counselors in Supporting Students' College Readiness; (2) Texas' Ban on College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Offices Takes Effect (Chloe Latham Sikes); (3) Encouraging STEM Pathways through Student and Teacher Experiences (Stephanie García); and (4) IDRA Priorities for the 2024 Georgia General Assembly Session.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Breaking Barriers to Learning." Contents include: (1) The Importance of Artificial Intelligence in Education for All Students (Hector Bojorquez and Michelle Martínez Vega); (2) Classroom Censorship Laws Sweep Across (Terrence Wilson); (3) Identity-Based Bullying Undermines Student Safety and Success (Paige Duggins-Clay and Makiah Lyons); and (4) Academy: Discover the Power of AI for Educators.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. This issue is the "50th Anniversary Edition." Contents include: (1) IDRA Milestones Across Five Decades to Fulfill the Promise of Education that Every Student Deserves (Celina Moreno, María Robledo Montecel, and Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (2) One Mission, Many Paths: 50 Years of Transforming Education by Putting Children First (Celina Moreno, María Robledo Montecel, and Aurelio M. Montemayor).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Equity Matters." Contents include: (1) Families Insist on Equitable School Funding: "Rodríguez v. San Antonio ISD" Ruling 50 Years Ago Has Lasting Effects (Christie L. Goodman); (2) How to Know if Your District Needs an Equity Audit (Hector Bojorquez); (3) MAS Springs Youthfully: Teacher and Student Advocacy of Mexican American Studies (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (4) IDRA José A. Cárdenas School Finance Fellows Program.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Policy Issues in Texas & Georgia." Contents include: (1) What to Expect from Bids to Take Public Money Out of Public Schools (Diana Long); (2) Remove Obstacles to Ethnic Studies for Georgia Students (Ruth Youn); (3) Traditional School Discipline is Harmful for All (Alisha Tuff); (4) Georgia Students Deserve a 21st Century Education for the Multicultural and Multilingual Future (Jonathan Peraza Campos); (5) Dual Credit Programs Give Students a Fighting Chance to Access and Succeed in College (Steve Kemgang); and (6) Black History Month Features.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Policy Priorities." Contents include: (1) IDRA Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Celebration; (2) Advancing Our Vision for U.S. Public Schools & Students: IDRA Federal Policy Priorities (Morgan Craven); (3) Policy Roadmap for Texas Education: IDRA Policy Priorities for Texas Legislative Session (Chloe Latham Sikes); and (4) Advocacy Goals for Educational Equity in Georgia: IDRA Policy Priorities for the 2023 General Assembly Session (Terrence Wilson).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "State Education Policy Impact." Contents include: (1) Texas Legislature Fails to Address the Needs of Texas Students and Teachers (Chloe Latham Sikes and Paige Duggins-Clay); (2) Coalition in Georgia Pushes for Culturally Sustaining Education (Thomas Marshall, III); (3) Lawmakers Refuse to Adopt School Vouchers, for Now (Diana Long); (4) Major Changes Ahead for Texas Future College Students (Steve Kemgang); and (5) Texas Prioritizes Hardening Measures Over Preventative Practices (Alisha Tuff).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Bridging the Digital Divide." Contents include: (1) Texas High School Attrition Rate Worsens for the First Time in Seven Years -- Highlights of IDRA's 37th Annual Attrition Study (Charles A. Cavazos); (2) Keeping Young Digital Citizens Safe (Michelle Martínez Vega); (3) Digital Divide Stories in South Texas Colonias; and (4) The Parallel Roads to Digital and Racial Justice (Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Voice for the New School Year." Contents include: (1) LGBTQ+ Inclusive Education is Not Dangerous, Nor is it a Difficult Feat (Manav Lund); (2) School Support Systems Help Students Succeed (Shreya Selvaraju); (3) Policing Students Through Dress Codes Needs to Stop (Ryan Cyrus); (4) Equip Schools to Support Student Mental Health (Tatiana Martínez Alvarez); (5) Mexican American Studies is American History (Josué Peralta de Jesús); (6) School Safety Requires Listening (Hawaii Guerin); (7) We Need a Well-Rounded Education -- An Open Letter to Lawmakers (Kennedy Moore); and (8) Dress Codes: A Racist, Sexist History and Why They Must be Changed (Adam Shelburn).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Authentic Family & Community Engagement." Contents include: (1) Recent Campaigns for "Parents' Bill of Rights" Designed to Marginalize Majority of Families (Terrence Wilson); (2) Parents Already Have Rights to Expect an Equitable and Just Education: Four Ways Schools Can Constructively Engage with Families (Aurelio M. Montemayor); (3) IDRA Parent Leadership in Education Model; and (4) STEM Ecosystems Foster Community Engagement for a Strong Future: Partner with a STEM Learning Ecosystem Near You! (Stephanie García).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Fair & Effective Education Policy." Contents include: (1) Community Advocates Push Back as Georgia Legislature Targets Vulnerable Students (Mikayla Arciaga); (2) Update on Texas Education Policy Priorities -- What to Watch and Where to Engage for Educational Equity (Chloe Latham Sikes, Monica Obregon, and Darlissa Villanueva); (3) IDRA's Core Principles Influence Federal Advocacy (Morgan Craven); and (4) IDRA and ARISE Adelante Partner to Make Texas School Funding System More Clear to Families (Chloe Latham Sikes and Aurelio M. Montemayor).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Culturally Sustaining Leadership." Contents include: (1) Why Emergent Bilingual Education Needs Equity-Centered Pedagogies (Lizdelia Piñón); (2) Four Leverage Points for Culturally Sustaining Practices (Paula Johnson and Hector Bojorquez); (3) Lessons Learned from Principals on Valuing, Safeguarding and Healing Students (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (4) Being a Culturally Curious Educator Supports Positive Mental Health for Students (Mia Covarrubias).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Culturally Sustaining Instruction." Contents include: (1) The Innovation of Translanguaging Pedagogy Enables Students to Use All of Their Tools (Lizdelia Piñón); (2) Let the Youth Speak for Themselves -- Fostering Substantive Conversations and Advocacy in the Classroom (Paula Johnson); (3) IDRA Partners with Unladylike2020 to Share Inclusive Materials for Students; (4) Families Celebrate Excellent Biliteracy Programs (Aurelio M. Montemayor & Alejandra Salazar Gonzalez); (5) IDRA Launches 'Southern Education Equity Network' to Support Family & Community Advocates; and (6) An Introduction to Culturally Sustaining Practices in the Classroom (Sulema Carreón-Sánchez).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Combatting Classroom Censorship." Contents include: (1) A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing -- The Attacks Against Equity through School Censorship and How Educators Can Still Teach the Truth (Chloe Latham Sikes); (2) Playing Defense is Not Enough -- Let's Recommit to a Vision of Public Schools that Values Every Child, Every Educator, Every Community (Michelle Castillo); (3) Families Must be Centered in Education Policymaking, Not Used as Puppets; (4) Reclaiming the U.S. Constitution -- Legal Considerations for Combatting Classroom Censorship Laws (Paige Duggins-Clay); and (5) New Advocacy Guide Shares Tips and Lessons from Classroom Censorship Fight (Morgan Craven).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Strengthening School Safety." Contents include: (1) The Facts about School-Based Police (Morgan Craven); (2) A Policy Roadmap -- School Safety for All Students (Makiah Lyons, Paige Duggins-Clay and Morgan Craven); (3) Implementing Restorative Practices to Strengthen School Communities (Paige Duggins-Clay); and (4) Alternative Responses to Student Behavior -- Steps for Teachers, Administrators and School Staff (Paula Johnson).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Visions of Educational Equity for the New Year." Contents include: (1) Healing-Centered Engagement -- Transforming Education in the Pandemic and Beyond (Irene Gómez); (2) Equitable Education Policies in the U.S. South Can Push the Country Toward Education Justice (Terrence Wilson & Chloe Latham Sikes); (3) Parents Urge Schools to Enrich, Not Exclude (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (4) New Online Toolkits for Educators.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Teaching Quality." Contents include: (1) Using Project-Based Learning and STEAM to Engage Students During the Pandemic: Highlights of IDRA EAC-"South" Assistance to Metro Nashville Public Schools (Paula N. Johnson); (2) Students Don't Need Old-Style Remediation -- Accelerated Instruction Helps Students Both Reconnect and Excel (Hector Bojorquez); (3) Principal Checklist to Reduce Bullying and Harassment: Supporting Safety and Learning for All (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (4) Texas is Not Financing College Readiness: IDRA Releases New Study on Inequitable Access to College Prep Math Courses.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Voice." Contents include: (1) How Can We Address a Problem that We Can't Even Discuss in School? Excerpt from Testimony against SB 3 Presented to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee (Santiago Hernandez); (2) Don't Crush Our Craving to Talk about Our Ancestors. Excerpt from Testimony against SB 3 Presented to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee (Alison Fernandez); (3) Student Researchers Report on Struggles their Peers Face During COVID-19. Excerpt from Report (Jacqueline Campos, Monica Cruz, Alejo Peña Soto, Fatimah Rasul, and Ana Ramón); (4) Chief Science Officers Encourage STEM and a Healthy State of Mind (Owen Balagia and Reagan Lindsey); (5) Leading a STEMonstration on Water Purification (Landon Villarreal); and (6) Our Experiences Make Us Who We Are (Santiago Sosa).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Redefining Discipline." Contents include: (1) Stop the Bad; Do the Good -- Hurting and Excluding Students Feeds the School-to-Prison Pipeline (Morgan Craven); (2) Schoolwide Restorative Justice Practices -- A Guided Tour (Paula N. Johnson); (3) School Districts with Higher Rates of Suspension Graduate Fewer Students -- New IDRA Analysis Examines Texas Data (Lola Solís); and (4) In Memoriam -- Mr. Jesse S. Treviño.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Culturally Sustaining Schools." Contents include: (1) Texas HB 3979 Will Hurt Students by Curtailing Schools' Equity Efforts (Altheria Caldera); (2) Culturally Sustaining Instruction Requires Culturally Sustaining Leadership (Paula N. Johnson); (3) Anti-Racist Schooling for All Students of Color (Bricio Vasquez & Altheria Caldera); (4) Visions and Provisions--Planning for K-12 Ethnic Studies Implementation (Irene Gómez); and (5) What the Term "Culturally Sustaining Practices" Means for Education in Today's Classrooms (Altheria Caldera).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Family Engagement." Contents include: (1) Solving the Digital Divide Requires Authentic Family Engagement (Thomas Marshall); (2) Education CAFE Families Provide Insight on State-Level Education Policies (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (3) The Case for Alternate Assessments and Community Oversight (Chloe Latham Sikes, Hector Bojorquez, and Morgan Craven).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Engagement." Contents include: (1) Mental Health Implications of Virtual Learning on Student Engagement (Christina Muñoz); (2) Student Researchers Collect Insights from Peers about the Pandemic's Effects on Schooling (Ana Ramón); (3) Students of Color Deserve Culturally Responsive Instruction and Ethnic Studies (Altheria Caldera and Nino Rodríguez); (4) Strategies for Engaging Students in Today's Virtual and Hybrid Classrooms (Stephanie García); and (5) Digital Divide Directly Impacted Student-School Engagement During COVID-19 (Christina Muñoz).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Bridging the Digital Divide." Contents include: (1) Texas Needs an Equitable State Broadband Plan to Serve Students and Families (Thomas Marshall); (2) Teachers Share Best Practices for Virtual Instruction in the Age of COVID-19 (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (3) Words Matter--The Case for Shifting to "Emergent Bilingual" (Araceli García).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "School Leadership." Contents include: (1) Strategies for School Leaders to Melt the Chilling Effects of Bad Education Policy (Chloe Latham Sikes); (2) Preview of IDRA's 36th Annual Texas Public School Attrition Study -- A First Look at the Pandemic's Effect on Attrition Rates (Roy Johnson); (3) Priorities and Recommendations for the 2022 Georgia Legislative Session (Terrence Wilson and Mikayla Arciaga); and (4) The Art of Reflection for School Leaders (Nilka Avilés).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Fair & Effective Education Policy." Contents include: (1) What Students Need from the Biden Administration--IDRA Recommendations for Federal Education Policy Changes (Morgan Craven); (2) Five Things to Know about Texas School Finance (Bricio Vasquez and Chloe Latham Sikes); (3) IDRA's Top Policy Priorities for the Texas Legislative Session (Chloe Latham Sikes); and (4) IDRA and Partners Release Policy Roadmap to Ensure Emergent Bilinguals Are Strong Readers by Third Grade.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Policy." Contents include: (1) Exciting Advances for Emergent Bilingual Students in Texas (Araceli García); (2) Politicizing Education Hurts Texas Students (Ana Ramón); (3) Federal Education Policy News -- What Educators Need to Know (Morgan Craven); (4) Texas Legislature Takes Some Steps Toward Addressing the Digital Divide (Thomas Marshall); (5) Student Health and Engagement Response to COVID-19 in Texas (Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz); (6) Family and Student Advocacy Persisted During the Texas Legislative Session Despite Structural Barriers (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (7) Most Opportunities Missed to Expand College Preparation and Access in Texas (Altheria Caldera).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "College Readiness and Access." Contents include: (1) Highlights of IDRA's 35th Annual Texas Public School Attrition Study -- Pre-COVID-19 Attrition Rate was down to 20% (Roy L. Johnson); (2) College Degrees Are Worth It -- People with Bachelor's Degrees Have Lower Poverty Rates (Bricio Vasquez); (3) How the IDRA EAC-"South" Helps School Districts Increase Access to Advanced Courses for Students of Color (Paula Johnson); and (4) Meaningful Strategies for Making STEM Accessible (Stephanie Garcia).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Policy." Contents include: (1) Legislative Sessions Constrained by COVID-19 Must Not Exclude Community Participation (Morgan Craven); (2) IDRA Policy Priorities -- State-Level Policies to Address Educational Inequities Now; (3) The Policing of Black People Begins in Schools (Morgan Craven); (4) A People-Powered Plan for the Texas Legislative Session (Ana Ramón); (5) Trump Administration, during a Pandemic, Moves to Privatize Education No Matter the Cost to Most Children (Chloe Latham Sikes); and (6) Every Scientist Named in the Texas Science Standards Is a White Male: IDRA Recommends Accurate Inclusion of Scientific History (Stephanie Garcia).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Family Engagement." Contents include: (1) Effective Family Outreach in the Pandemic Era (Karmen Rouland and Aurelio M. Montemayor); (2) Engaging Families in STEM Conversations with Students (Stephanie Garcia); (3) Effective Education Reform during COVID-19 Requires Authentic Family Engagement (Terrence Wilson); and (4) Immigrant Students' Rights to Attend Public Schools infographic.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "School District Health." Contents include: (1) Habits of a Healthy School District Where All Students Thrive (Celina Moreno and Christie L. Goodman); (2) State Takeovers of School Districts Don't Work (Terrence Wilson and Chloe Latham Sikes); (3) Meet Dr. Chloe Latham Sikes, IDRA Deputy Director of Policy; (4) Implications of Texas SB 1882 Patchwork of Partnerships (Chloe Latham Sikes); (5) IDRA Provides Bilingual Books to Young Learners to Diminish Digital Divide Effects Exacerbated by COVID-19; and (6) IDRA, Partners Provide South Texas Families Tech Support for Distance Learning During COVID-19 Crisis for Virtual Classrooms.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Equity Auditing." Contents include: (1) Using Equity Audits to Assess and Address Opportunity Gaps Across Education (Paula N. Johnson); (2) Ensuring Equity in Online Learning -- Considerations in Response to COVID-19's Impact on Schooling; (3) Meet Dr. Bricio Vasquez -- Education Data Scientist; (4) Free Educator Webinar Series; and (5) A Win for Equity -- Texas Board Adopts Curriculum Standards for African American Studies Course in Historic Vote.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "The Census Effect." Contents include: (1) The 2020 Census is Here -- Schools Should be Active (Bricio Vasquez); (2) President's Proposed Federal Budget Would Cut Education Funding and Programs (Morgan Craven); (3) Watching the Courts as They Consider the Next Voucher Case (Morgan Craven); and (4) What Schools Can Do for the 2020 Census Effort.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Fair Discipline." Contents include: (1) At What Cost? A Review of School Police Funding and Accountability across the U.S. South (Terrence Wilson); (2) How Schools Can End Harmful Discipline Practices (Morgan Craven, Nilka Avilés, and Aurelio M. Montemayor); (3) Racial and Gender Disparities in Dress Code Discipline Point to Need for New Approaches in Schools (Chloe Latham Sikes); and (4) Why Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs Do More Harm Than Good (Ana Ramón).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Teaching Quality." Contents include: (1) State Policy Recommendations for Addressing Teacher Shortages (Ana Ramón); (2) Teacher Preparation for Diverse Classrooms (Chloe Latham Sikes); and (3) Educator Coaching Model Strengthens Schools Serving Diverse Student Populations (Nilka Avilés).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Voice." Contents include: (1) Maybe One Day, the Pain Won't Feel the Same (Earl Williams); (2) We Create Hope within Our Communities -- Before and during COVID-19, Texas Chief Science Officers Advocate for STEM (Elizabeth Alexander, Shreya Chaudhary, and Isela Herrera); (3) IDRA Valued Youth Partnership Students Share their Experiences as Tutors (Serenity Nance and John Tscheulin); (4) Systems in America Are Set Up to Be Racist (Alana Price); and (5) We Are Important, and So Is Our History (Quardasha Mitchell).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Keeping the Public in Public Education." Contents include: (1) Texas Must Scrutinize Potential Charter Schools Before Issuing Approvals for Growth (Chloe Latham Sikes); (2) Pandemic No Excuse for Growth of Poorly Performing Virtual Charter Schools in U.S. South (Terrence Wilson); (3) IDRA Legislative Priorities: Keep the Public in Public Education; and (4) A&M-Commerce Partners with IDRA in Groundbreaking Collaboration: IDRA Will Teach Graduate-Level "Social Justice Through Education Policy" This Spring.

The accounting community--from practitioners to educators to advocacy groups--has known for some time that the profession is facing a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled labor. Although the demand for [...]

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Gender Justice." Contents include: (1) Making Schools Safe Learning Havens for LGBTQ Students (Stephanie Garcia and Aurelio M. Montemayor); (2) Discipline Strategies to Combat Faulty Assumptions that Target Black Male Youth (Daryl V. Williams); and (3) Strategies for Increasing Girls' Participation in STEM (Paula Johnson and Michelle Vega).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "School Leadership." Contents include: (1) Superintendent Dr. Daniel King Describes How Strong Family Leadership Leads to School Innovation (Aurelio M. Montemayor, featuring Superintendent Daniel King); (2) Five Best Practices for Effective Principals and School Leadership Teams (Nilka Avilés); (3) Mexican American Studies in All Grades -- Administering an Innovation (Aurelio M. Montemayor); and (4) English Learner Success Depends on Strong Principal Leadership (Nilka Avilés).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Voice." Contents include: (1) Steps for Helping Students Become Activists -- A Teen's Advice (Melivia Mujia); (2) Building a STEM Identity through the Chief Science Officer Program (Lexis Ratto and Kelly O'Kane); (3) The Day I Taught My High School Peers (Alyssa Diaz); (4) How Student-Led Lessons Impacted My Understanding of School (Daniela Herrejon); (5) Students as Co-Collaborators in Teaching & Learning -- Advice from the Field (Andres López); and (6) High School Tutor Learns While Tutoring Others (Anahi Ortiz).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "College Opportunity." Contents include: (1) School Counselors Express Concerns about College and Career Advising in Texas (Hector Bojorquez); (2) Five Best Practices that Add Women to the Equation -- Preparing K-12 Girls for Mathematics (Stephanie Garcia and Kasia Razynska); (3) Characteristics of College-Focused Schools (Nilka Avilés); (4) Top Ten Percent Plan -- Expanding Access to College in Texas; and (5) IDRA Names Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez as the 2019 José A. Cárdenas School Finance Fellow.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Early Learning." Contents include: (1) Current Proposals for Texas' Investment in English Learners Still Not Enough (Morgan Craven); (2) Fixing Asset-Based Early Childhood Education (Hector Bojorquez); (3) Building Culturally-Relevant Libraries for Young Learners (Nilka Avilés and José A. Velázquez); and (4) Bilingual Literacy Development Materials.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Fair Discipline." Contents include: (1) Federal School Safety Commission Recommendations Could Lead to Less Safe Schools (Morgan Craven); (2) Principles for School Safety, Privacy and Equity; (3) Three Approaches for Dismantling Discriminatory Discipline in Schools (Paula N. Johnson and José A. Velázquez); (4) Discipline Policies Must Not Come at the Expense of Any Group of Students (Morgan Craven); and (5) Restorative Practices -- Informal and Formal Processes for Addressing Behavior (Paula N. Johnson).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The theme of this issue is "Purposeful Governance." Contents include: (1) New IDRA CEO Carries on IDRA's Legacy and Future (Celina Moreno); (2) Meet Morgan Craven -- IDRA's National Director of Policy; (3) Red Flags Wave in Proposed Changes to Title IX: Gender Equity in Schools Needs Diligence not Relaxation (Aurelio M. Montemayor); (4) IDRA Priority Policy Issues for Texas in 2019; and (5) IDRA Texas School Attrition Study, 2017-18.

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "School Holding Power." Contents include: (1) Texas Higher Education Law Aims to Improve Outcomes for Students in Developmental Education (Bricio Vasquez); (2) Three Guiding Principles for Removing College Readiness Barriers in School Policies and Practices (Nilka Avilés and Hector Bojorquez); (3) Texas Public School Attrition Study Highlights, 2018-19 -- Attrition Rate Down to 21%, But Texas High Schools Lost Over 88,000 Students Last Year (Roy L. Johnson); (4) Valued Youth Partnership Tutor on the Importance of Being Able to Ask Questions in School (Emaje' Williams).

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Policy." Contents include: (1) Texas Legislature Concentrates on School Funding (Morgan Craven); (2) New Discipline and Safety Policies for Texas (Morgan Craven); (3) Accountability Measures Set to Respond to Public Pressure: Changes Made to STAAR; Individual Graduation Committees Extended (Morgan Craven); (4) College Access Legislation Increases Transparency and Adds Funds to TEXAS Grant Program (Morgan Craven); and (5) Education Impact of Supreme Court Decision on Citizenship Question: IDRA Statement on Education Impact of Supreme Court Decision Blocking Citizenship Question on 2020 Census.