Media Coverage 2023
PEN America Joins Seven Other Groups to Support Lawsuit to Overturn Texas Book Ban Law As Unconstitutional, November 30, 2023
IDRA President and CEO Celina Moreno | ¡Nosotros! with Elaine Ayala, November 17, 2023
Parents Are People, This American Life podcast, Chana Joffe-Walt from WBEZ Chicago, November 10, 2023
Commentary: Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, 93 and ‘still raising hell,’ by Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, San Antonio Express-News, November 3, 2023
Critics Warn Passing Vouchers in Texas Will Revive Segregated Schools, by Simone Carter, Dallas Observer, November 3, 2023 (Also appeared in te Houston Chronicle)
Markey Joins Murphy, Pressley In Announcing Bicameral Legislation to End Criminalization of Students, Invest in Counselors, Safer Environment for Kids, November 2, 2023
Black Students Retaliated Against By Administration After Being Called: “Porch Monkeys” and “N-Words,” by Observer Staff, October 31, 2023
Podcast: Knowledge is Power: 50 Years of Advancing Education Equity with IDRA, by Scott Atnip, Weekly Witness by Texas Impact, October 27, 2023
IDRA 50th Anniversary, Celina Moreno and Aurelio Montemayor with host Martha Tijerina, CTSA Catholic Television of San Antonio, October 26 (also ran on Spectrum Channel News 15)
Is data the new oil? Why South Texas should pay attention to the well-worn cliché, commentary by Jordana Barton-Garcia, for the San Antonio Express-News, October 24, 2023
In the Texas school voucher debate, a key question remains: Would they be legal?, by Taylor Goldenstein, Houston Chronicle, October 23, 2023 (Also ran in San Antonio Express-News, October 23, 2023)
Zombie Voucher Scam is Back!, by Tatum Owens, Progress Texas, October 23, 2023
‘Our taxes shouldn’t be paying for discrimination’: School choice opponents rally against SB 1, by Lily Kepner, Austin American-Statesman, October 18, 2023 (Also ran in Yahoo News, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, October 18, 2023)
‘No to voucher schemes!’ | More Texas advocacy groups battle against school vouchers, by Melia Masumoto, KVUE-TV CBS, October 18, 2023
Texas Freedom Network delivers anti-school voucher petition to lawmakers, by Carissa Lehmkuhl, Fox 7 Austin, October 18, 2023
Texas School Choice Opponents Rally Against Education Savings Accounts, Citing Lack of Accountability and Equity Standards, by Leo Gallagher, Bollyinside, October 18, 2023
Voters to decide several Atlanta Board of Education seats this November | Everything you need to know, by Rachel Aragon, Atlanta News First, October 17, 2023
A 50-year-old court case still shapes Texas school funding today, by Camille Phillips, Texas Public Radio, October 14, 2023
Why you should take those ‘best schools’ lists with a grain of salt — or maybe the whole shaker, by Henry Krausse, San Antonio Express-News, October 9, 2023
Happy Hour 130: Why School Vouchers Are Bad For Texas, And How To Fight Back, Progress Texas Podcasts, October 6, 2023
Commentary: It’s past time for corporal punishment to end in schools, Morgan Craven, San Antonio Express-News, October 6, 2023
Editorial: State it clearly: No ‘paddling’ in Texas’ schools, San Antonio Express-News, October 4, 2023 (Also ran in Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 12, 2023)
Texas’s Governor Is Trying to Destroy Public Education — and Dim Those Friday Night Lights, by Nora de la Cour, Jacobin, October 2, 2023
Latinas in Education, ¡SALUD!, KLRN-TV, September 28, 2023
2023 Student Rights Laws, CROWN Act Protects Black Students from Having to Cutoff Hair – IDRA Wants Families to Know These Laws, (Page 8) San Antonio Observer, September 13, 2023
Roxane Gay, Tim O’Brien Join Texas Book Festival Lineup – Full author roster revealed for November fest, by Kimberley Jones, The Austin Chronicle, September 13, 2023
Announcing the 2023 Nonprofit, Corporate Philanthropy honorees, by Jannette Zorrilla, San Antonio Business Journal, September 13, 2023
IDRA reminds public schools they must serve undocumented children, by Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, September 12, 2023
$262.5 million invested in higher ed to cultivate diverse agriculture professionals, by Bre Holbert, Ag Daily, August 30, 2023
State Laws That Impact the School Year by Focus on South Texas, FOX29, August 26, 2023
Peter Gonzales Falcon, Star of Federico Fellini’s ‘Roma,’ Dies at 75, by Mike Barnes, Hollywood Reporter, August 24, 2023 (related articles: Peter Gonzales Falcon Dies: Star of Fellini’s ‘Roma’ Was 75, by Tom Tapp, Deadline, August 24, 2023; and Peter Gonzales Falcon Dies: Star of Federico Fellini’s ‘Roma’ Was 75, by Martin Holmes, TV Insider, August 25, 2023
Controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in Georgia sparks ongoing debate among legislators and advocates, by Brianna Cook, WGXA,Also ran in 70 other media outlets in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Tennessee, Utah, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, California, Pennsylvania, Arizona, New York, Wisconsin, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, Nevada, Missouri, Iowa)
A near unanimous vote gives Judson ISD more time to hire district officers to comply with HB3, by Amanda Henderson, FOX29, August 17, 2023. (Also in News4SA)
Texas State University trying to bring more diversity to the agriculture industry, by Dylan McKim, KXan, August 16, 2023.
New Texas law requires armed guard at every school but there is not enough money to pay for it, by Camille Phillips, Texas Public Radio, August 15, 2023
Civil Rights Organizations Send Letter to Texas Superintendents Calling for Accordance with CROWN Act, Legal Defense Fund, August 11, 2023
Tarrant County Struggles to Find Teachers for Bilingual Education, Governing,
Texas offered schools money to expand bilingual programs. But who’s going to teach them?, by Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 24, 2023
Bridging the Gap – KDRY Radio, San Antonio, June 24, 2023
Texas Legislature did not prioritize schools this session, Children at Risk says, by Rebecca Noel, Houston Public Media, July 20, 2023 (Also in KERA News, July 21, 2023; KSTX-FM, July 20, 2023; Public Radio for Northeast Texas July 24, 2023; Katy Bubbly Life, July 21, 2023)
State commission continues plan to remove words like ‘equity’ and ‘inclusion’ from teacher lesson plans, by Ross Williams, Georgia Recorder, July 14, 2023
Georgia panel slashes more references to diversity in teacher prep rules, by Alice Tecotzky, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 13, 2023
UNT can charge higher tuition for out-of-state students than undocumented Texans, court rules, by Ryan Nickerson, Houston Chronicle, July 12, 2023
Conservative Court Makes Unexpected Decision in Closely Watched Case, Adolfo Pesquera, Education Law, July 11, 2023 (Also in Presidents’ Alliance, July 11, 2023)
How YOU can impact education policy | Empowering student voices (IDRA profile), The Nicest Nick, July 2, 2023
South Texas activist pushed LULAC on equal rights for women in 1930s, by Teresita Dominguez, Caller-Times, June 30, 2023
The Supreme Court ends affirmative action in college admissions, Nadra Nittle, The 19th, June 29, 2023
Growing future food and agricultural scientists at minority-serving institutions, US Black Engineer, June 26, 2023
OHS students among national essay contest winners, by Odessa American, June 22, 2023
USDA Launches Program to Cultivate Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals, USAgNet, June 22, 2023
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Inaugural “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals Program”, The Banner-News, June 22, 2023
LULAC Celebrates 41st Anniversary Of Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Education Case In Favor Of Immigrant Children, Carol A. Clark, Los Alamos Daily Post, June 15, 2023
Gov. Greg Abbott signs new law mandating armed security at all Texas schools, Allysa Cole, KSAT-TV, June 15, 2023
Are Clear Backpacks the Answer to Stopping Another School Shooting?, Simone Carter, Dallas Observer, June 14, 2023
Bill requiring armed security at all Texas schools heads to Gov. Abbott’s desk, Courtney Friedman, KSAT-TV, June 12, 2023
Black Girl’s Complaints About Racist Bullies Are Always Dismissed by Her School – Finally, She Realizes She’s Had Enough, By Amanda Shaw, Goalcast, June 10, 2023
Georgia Professional Standards Commission removes DEI terms from teacher preparation guidelines, by Elizabeth Rymarev, Atlanta Civic Circle, June 9, 2023
Major teacher training program change removes diversity, equity and inclusion from training rules, by Courtney Francisco, WSB-TV, June 8, 2023 (Also ran in Yahoo! News, June 8, 2023)
Georgia dropping ‘woke’ words from teacher preparation rules, by Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service, June 8, 2023 (also appeared in Marietta Daily Journal, June 8, 2023; Calhoun Times, June 10, 2023; Yahoo News!, June 9, 2023; The Augusta Press, June 8, 2023; Henry Herald, June 8, 2023)
Public to get limited chance to comment before vote to remove ‘woke’ words from K-12 lesson plans, by Ross Williams, Georgia Recorder, June 8, 2023 (Also appeared in WABE-TV, June 8, 2023)
Backlash Grows on Removing DEI Standards from GA Teacher Training, by Shanteya Hudson, Public News Service, June 7, 2023
‘It’s part of my identity’: CROWN Act hits home for San Antonians who’ve experienced hair discrimination, Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, June 6, 2023
Editorial: STAAR test fails Texas students and needs to go — but not as part of school vouchers, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, June 6, 2023 (Also ran in Cleburne Times-Review, June 6, 2023)
Editorial: Vouchers would take Texas public education backward, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, June 2, 2023
Uvalde-driven school safety bill could put a gun in every school and a panic button in every class, by Bill Zeeble, KERA – North Texas, June 1, 2023
Texas Legislature’s response to Uvalde: Armed security officers at every school, by Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, June 1, 2023
Oficiales armados en las escuelas de Texas: Legislatura aprueba presupuesto, by Talia Richman, Al día Dallas, June 1, 2023
Discussion Guide: Equity as an Essential Component for Better Attendance, Lori Nathanson, Ph.D., Insight Policy Research, May 2023
The Importance of Artificial Intelligence in Education for All Students, by Hector Bojorquez & Michelle Martínez Vega, Language Magazine (IDRA Newsletter article reprint), May 31, 2023
50 Years of Strengthening Education in SA, Nation, KABB-TV Focus on South Texas, May 27, 2023
¿Qué está sucediendo en la Legislatura de Texas en este momento y qué necesita saber la gente?, Despierta Austin, May 26, 2023
On Brown v. Board Anniversary, Murphy Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Diversity in Schools, Senator Chris Murphy post, May 17, 2023
In public comment period, commissioners who could delete ‘diversity’ from lessons filter out public, Ross Williams, Georgia Recorder, May 12, 2023
Opinion: Diversity is not a bad word, By Mikayla Arciaga, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 11, 2023
Words like ‘diverse’ may soon be removed from training for Georgia public school teachers, Amanda Rose, Atlanta News First, May 10, 2023
Commentary: Texas bills offer illusion of school safety, Paige Duggins-Clay, San Antonio Express-News, May 2, 2023
Discussion Guide: Equity as an Essential Component for Better Attendance, Lori Nathanson, Ph.D., Insight Policy Research, May 2023
Texas Legislature proposes parental rights amendments, by Victoria Antram, Ballotpedia News, April 27, 2023
Proposed ban on corporal punishment in Texas schools fails again, by Pooja Salhotra, Texas Tribune, April 26, 2023
Texas education board could ban textbooks that discuss gender identity under proposed bill, by Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune, April 25, 2023 (Also appeared in KERA, April 25, 2023 and KENS5, April 25, 2023)
DEI instruction quietly struck from state manual used by teachers, by Doug Richards, Alive, April 21, 2023
Stricter anti-bullying in schools rules ahead? Here’s what Texas lawmakers propose, by Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman, April 19, 2023
House committee hears testimony from LCISD parents on anti-identity-based bullying bill, by Jaxie Pidgeon, Everything Lubbock, April 18, 2023
Bullying victims from across Texas push for anti-bullying bill, KVUE ABC, video, April 17, 2023
$10 million fund set up to address RGV’s digital divide, by Dayna Reyes, Rio Grande Guardian, April 17, 2023
Texas lawmakers could make it easier to kick students out of class, by Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, April 13, 2023 (Also appeared in Education Week, April 14, 2023)
Families could face steeper penalties for truancy under Texas bill up for debate, Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, April 11, 2023
Legislature school choice fight stirs bitter memories of 1998 Edgewood ISD experiment, by Isaac Windes, San Antonio Report, April 9, 2023
Texas lawmakers’ attempts to ban school library books deemed inappropriate for kids spur confusion — and concerns, by Alejandro Serrano, Texas Tribune, March 31, 2023
Lawmakers across U.S. push for harsher school discipline as safety fears rise, by Patrick Wall, Chalkbeat, March 28, 2023
In Texas Senate hearing, education savings accounts raise questions about accountability and impact on public schools, Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune, March 22, 2023 (also published by KSAT-TV, March 23, 2023; KERA News, March 23, 2023)
School choice bill goes before Texas Senate committee, Ali Linan Rockwall County Herald-Banner, March 23, 2023
Bill in Texas Legislature aims to reduce bullying after Lubbock civil rights complaint, by Sarah Self-Walbrick, KTTZ-FM NPR, March 22, 2023
Should the state take over Baltimore City Schools? Here’s What Happened When Other Tried, by Chris Papst, EBFF-Fox 45 News, March 22, 2023
Community Members Honored the 50th Anniversary of a Supreme Court Ruling that had a Lasting Effect Here in our Community, KABB-Fox San Antonio, March 22, 2023
Plano ISD runs a deficit. Why? It’s sending millions to the state, Caroline Love, KERA News, March 21, 2023 (also published by the Texas Standard, March 23, 2023)
Radio story about voucher proposals in Texas (untitled), KSTX-FM, March 21, 2023, 08:45 am CT
Texas Just Seized One of The Largest School Districts in The Country, by Claire Woodcock, VICE, March 20, 2023
Reemplazan junta escolar: Cuando la TEA asume el control se entrega a una junta de administradores designada por el estado en Houston ISD [Replace school board: When the TEA takes over it is turned over to a state appointed board of trustees in Houston ISD], El Mañana, March 18, 2023
Legislation filed to protect students from identity-based bullying in Texas, Jaxie Pidgeon, KLBK-CBS Lubbock, March 17, 2023
What happens when Texas takes over a school district like Houston ISD?, by María Méndez, Texas Tribune, March 16, 2023 (also published by KWTX-TV Waco-Temple-Killeen, March 17, 2023)
Texas Education Agency will take control of Houston ISD in June, Brian López, Texas Tribune, March 15, 2023 (also published by KXVV-ABC, March 16, 2023; Black Chronicle, March 16, 2023; Victoria Advocate, March 16, 2023; MyParisTexas.com; March 19, 2023)
50 years since landmark Edgewood education case, Madalyn Mendoza, Axios San Antonio, March 14, 2023
‘This is our legacy’ — Commemorating 50 years of the fight for school finance equity in Rodriguez vs San Antonio ISD, Texas Public Radio: Fronteras, March 10, 2023
A ‘Dark Vision’ Of Discipline: Zero Tolerance Makes A Comeback, by Josephine Lee, Texas Observer, March 10, 2023
A dangerous time, Kerry Sinanan, The Paisano (UTSA), March 7, 2023
San Antonio’s bilingual students affected by U.S. teacher shortage, Madalyn Mendoza, Axios San Antonio, March 1, 2023
Kemgang: Dual Credit Programs Give Students a Fighting Chance to Access and Succeed in College, Rio Grande Guardian, March 1, 2023
Groups highlight ‘good’ and ‘bad’ education bills in Georgia, Asia Ashley, CNHI News (Alabama), February 28, 2023 (also published in Allied News, February 28, 2023; Dalton Daily Citizen, March 1, 2023; Valdosta Daily Times, March 6, 2023)
Texas Democrats Double Down on Defending Public Ed, Simone Carter, Dallas Observer, February 27, 2023
ABIC Action, Dreamers, Business Leaders Condemn Suit Attacking U of North Texas Over In-State Tuition Rates, Jay W. Belle Isle, Legal Reader, February 27, 2023
Fact check: Democrat says MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech isn’t required reading in Texas schools – Accusatory tweet aimed at Gov. Abbott by Democratic strategist got 9 million views, by Nusaiba Mizan, Houston Chronicle, February 27, 2023
PolitiFact: Are Texas schools required to teach Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’?, by Nusaiba Mizan, Austin American-Statesman, February 14, 2023
Alabama ‘parents’ rights’ bill: What would it mean for families?, Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector, February 14, 2023
Presidents’ Alliance and IDRA React to Oral Arguments in University of North Texas Case, release, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, February 13, 2023
Mississippi Used Corporal Punishment in Schools 4,300 Times Last Year, by Julia James, Mississippi Today,
All Children Deserve Access to Quality Education, Free of Bullying, By Sunita Sohrabj, African American Voice, February 1, 2023
IDRA: Here’s our Policy Roadmap for Texas Education, by Rio Grande Guardian, Chloe Latham Sikes, February 1, 2023
How second- and third-generation Latinos are reclaiming the Spanish language, Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, January 31, 2023 (also published in The Frederick News-Post, February 18, 2023)
Education and Civil Rights – What to Expect in the Year Ahead, by Siliconeer, January 25, 2023
School police forces are common in Texas and Florida. Is Boston next?, Abby Patkin, Boston Globe, January 23, 2023
Civil Rights community details Education Landscape in 2023, Insight News, January 19, 2023
Lubbock NAACP press conference held to respond to district racial discrimination resolutions, by Jaxie Pidgeon, KAMC-TV (AMC Lubbock), January 12, 2023
Trustees approve no tolerance resolution, Melissa McCaghren, The Slatonite, January 12, 2023
Slaton ISD board announces racism resolution hours after Lubbock-Cooper following claims drawing nationwide attention, by Wes Rumbelow, EverythingLubbock, January 5, 2023
Lubbock-Cooper ISD board votes on resolution after claims of racism, civil rights violations make national headlines, by Caitlyn Rooney, EverythingLubbock, January 5, 2023
Lubbock-Cooper School Board Approves Resolution Condemning Racism, by Mikael Donnovan, KFYO-Radio Lubbock, January 5, 2023
Lubbock-Cooper holds special called board meeting to address racism, by Christianna Barbosa, EverythingLubbock/KLBK-TV (CBS-Lubbock), January 3, 2023
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