IDRA

“Tutoring means a lot to me… I want to be a teacher because I love helping kids.”

Kaileah Evans shared how participating in the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership helped her discover purpose, connection and a love for helping others learn. 💙

Read more inspiring reflections from students in the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership and Youth Leadership Now programs and see how leadership opportunities are helping students build confidence and belonging.

Read the winning reflections: https://bit.ly/4wzP0wY

Students can support each other on the path to college.

IDRA’s “Timeline for My Transition to College” helps students map out what to do each year of high school to reach their college goals.

Part of Toolkit 1: How to Build Student-to-Student Networks and the broader Community-Based College Access Toolkit.

Free and available in English and Spanish
🔗 https://idra.news/CollegeAccessToolkit

Today, IDRA released its 40th annual Texas high school attrition study.

The 2024-25 statewide attrition rate jumped to 21%, the largest increase in four decades. Texas is failing to graduate one in five students.

Explore the study and resources:

📘 Annoucement:
https://idra.news/AttritionStudyNews

📊 Report and resources:
https://idra.news/AttritionStudy

🗺️ 10-year county dashboard:
https://idra.news/Txlook

📎 “6 Policies and Practices that Lead to Higher Dropout Rates”:
[https://idra.news/6Policies](https://idra.news/6Policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

The standard is 100% graduation.

What happens when students lose access to the support systems that help them get to college?

In this interview, IDRA’s Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., discusses new research on how recent policy changes are impacting college access pathways for Texas students and families. From the importance of representation to the need for stronger parent and student networks, this conversation highlights what students need to succeed and why those supports matter.

🎥 Watch the full interview and learn more about the barriers students are facing and the solutions communities are building together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2KAPBOh6GQ

Report: Getting rid of DEI programs at Texas schools has made college access more difficult for some A new report by the Intercultural Development Research Association shows how getting rid of DEI programs has made college access more difficult for some stud...

What happens when middle school students are given the chance to become creators, coders and problem-solvers? 🎮💻

A new story from the San Antonio Report highlights how IDRA VisionCoders program is helping students in San Antonio build confidence and explore STEM careers through video game coding.

From creating their own games to presenting digital portfolios at Palo Alto College, students are discovering that technology is not “for someone else.” It’s for them, too.

As one student shared, coding taught her that “mistakes are not the end.”

We’re proud to see these young innovators showing what’s possible when students have access to meaningful STEM learning opportunities. 🚀

Read the story from the San Antonio Report: https://sanantonioreport.org/video-game-coding-san-antonio-middle-schoolers-south-side/

How video game coding is helping Southside middle schoolers Vision Coders created by the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) introduces coding classes to underserved middle schools.

What would it take to build a South where every student can thrive?

In our new article, A New Southern Strategy: Building a Policy Agenda to Improve Southern Education, IDRA's Morgan Craven, Makiah Lyons, & Terrence Wilson examine the long history of Black-led policy agendas and make the case for a bold, visionary agenda for Southern education today.

Join The African American Network - TAAN on Thursday, June 18, 2026, for a discussion on the new article and from other speakers on how we can use research to inform policies and practices that support students, schools, and communities.

Every student deserves access to a complete and truthful education that reflects the diversity of our communities and our nation's history.

This Pride Month, we recognize the contributions, experiences and leadership of LGBTQ+ individuals whose stories have shaped our society. When students see themselves and others reflected in the curriculum, they gain opportunities to deepen their understanding, build connections across differences and engage more fully in learning.

Through IDRA's SEEN School Resource Hub, educators and families can access lessons and resources that support inclusive, culturally sustaining schools where all students can learn, belong and thrive.

Explore the resources: www.idraseen.org/hub

Preparing for college also means learning from challenges.

IDRA’s Growth Mindset Activities guide helps students reflect, build resilience and stay focused on their goals.

Part of Toolkit 2: How to Encourage Student Leadership for Transitions to College in the Community-Based College Access – Online Technical Assistance Toolkit.

Free and available in English and Spanish
🔗 https://idra.news/CollegeAccessToolkit