88R15156 BK-D
By: Menéndez, Gutierrez, Zaffirini S.R. No. 262
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, For 50 years, IDRA has been a leading advocate for
equal opportunity in the Texas public education system; and
WHEREAS, IDRA, or the Intercultural Development Research
Association, was founded by a small group of concerned citizens in
1973, and over the course of the past half century, the organization
has worked to ensure that all Texas schoolchildren are provided
with a strong academic foundation that gives them access to higher
education and prepares them for success in college; and
WHEREAS, Since IDRA's inception, school finance reform has
been at the forefront of its policy agenda; in addition to raising
public awareness of the inequalities that leave many Texas students
at a disadvantage, the organization has engaged key decision makers
in efforts to eliminate these disparities and bring about positive
change to our state's education system; and
WHEREAS, IDRA staff have worked on landmark court cases to
guarantee the civil rights of all children, regardless of race,
sex, or national origin; IDRA's research on school dropouts in
Texas also led to revisions in the state's education law in 1984,
and members of the organization have played a key role in the
federal Bilingual Education Act of 1968 and Texas' first bilingual
education law; and
WHEREAS, In addition to its efforts at the state and federal
level, IDRA has provided support to educators and administrators to
improve teaching strategies and programs at Texas schools and to
help schools and districts address disparities in student access to
high-level STEM courses, racial and gender-based bullying,
workforce diversity, and other issues; the organization has also
helped to advise schools on strategies to better serve immigrant
students, and it has made a positive difference through its dropout
prevention and parental leadership programs; and
WHEREAS, IDRA was founded on the principle that all children
deserve the benefits of a high-quality education, and the
organization's members have demonstrated a tireless dedication to
this endeavor that is truly commendable; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby honor IDRA on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and
recognize all those involved with the organization for the
contributions they have made to the success of Texas schools and the
students they serve; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for IDRA as an expression of high regard by the Texas
Senate.