SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 646

WHEREAS, The Intercultural Development Research Association celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Valued Youth Partnership in 2024; and

WHEREAS, Established in San Antonio in 1984, the IDRA VYP is a research-based cross-age tutoring and dropout prevention program that recruits at-risk secondary students to serve as tutors for elementary students who are also struggling in school; by experiencing the positive contributions they can make in the lives of others, the older children are more able to appreciate their own assets and to value the importance of their own education; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the partnership has helped to keep 35,500 students, or 98 percent of its tutors, in school, and it has positively impacted 750,000 children, families, and educators; in addition, participating students have seen such benefits as improved attendance, reduced disciplinary action referrals, enhanced academic and life skills, strengthened perceptions of self and school, and a higher likelihood of advancing to postsecondary education; and

WHEREAS, This internationally recognized program operates in numerous U.S. states as well as in Puerto Rico, Brazil, and England; among its many accolades, it was named a Bright Spot in Hispanic Education by the White House in 2015, and it was one of only 30 programs worldwide to be initially included in the International Youth Foundation database; it has also been featured as an education model in several publications and in extensive media coverage; and

WHEREAS, For more than four decades, the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership has worked to reduce the school dropout rate and has provided worthwhile leadership experience for students all over the nation and the world, and the program is indeed worthy of recognition for the exemplary role it plays in the communities it serves; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Intercultural Development Research Association Valued Youth Partnership and extend to all those affiliated with the program sincere best wishes for continued success with their important work; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for IDRA as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Menéndez

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 31, 2025.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate