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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For 50 years, IDRA has been a leading advocate for |
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equal opportunity in the Texas public education system; and |
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WHEREAS, IDRA, or the Intercultural Development Research |
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Association, was founded by a small group of concerned citizens in |
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1973, and over the course of the past half century, the organization |
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has worked to ensure that all Texas schoolchildren are provided |
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with a strong academic foundation that gives them access to higher |
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education and prepares them for success in college; and |
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WHEREAS, Since IDRA's inception, school finance reform has |
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been at the forefront of its policy agenda; in addition to raising |
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public awareness of the inequalities that leave many Texas students |
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at a disadvantage, the organization has engaged key decision makers |
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in efforts to eliminate these disparities and bring about positive |
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change to our state's education system; and |
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WHEREAS, IDRA staff have worked on landmark court cases to |
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guarantee the civil rights of all children, regardless of race, |
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sex, or national origin; IDRA's research on school dropouts in |
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Texas also led to revisions in the state's education law in 1984, |
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and members of the organization have played a key role in the |
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federal Bilingual Education Act of 1968 and Texas' first bilingual |
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education law; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to its efforts at the state and federal |
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level, IDRA has provided support to educators and administrators to |
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improve teaching strategies and programs at Texas schools and to |
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help schools and districts address disparities in student access to |
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high-level STEM courses, racial and gender-based bullying, |
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workforce diversity, and other issues; the organization has also |
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helped to advise schools on strategies to better serve immigrant |
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students, and it has made a positive difference through its dropout |
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prevention and parental leadership programs; and |
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WHEREAS, IDRA was founded on the principle that all children |
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deserve the benefits of a high-quality education, and the |
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organization's members have demonstrated a tireless dedication to |
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this endeavor that is truly commendable; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby honor IDRA on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and |
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recognize all those involved with the organization for the |
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contributions they have made to the success of Texas schools and the |
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students they serve; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for IDRA as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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Senate. |