IDRA strengthens and transforms public education by leading policy and legal analyses and advocacy; dynamic teacher training and principal coaching; useful research, evaluation and frameworks for action; and innovative student, family and community engagement.
We are committed to an asset-based philosophy, respecting the knowledge and skills of the individuals we work with and building on the strengths of the students and parents in their schools.
Throughout its history, IDRA has been a vocal advocate for the right of every student to equality of educational opportunity. IDRA was founded in 1973 by Dr. José A. Cárdenas and was later directed by Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel. Today, IDRA is directed by Celina Moreno, J.D. See IDRA’s latest annual report, The Power of Voice and Action – Accelerating the Promise, for stories of IDRA’s work in 2019 before the pandemic and stories in 2020 showcasing our quick and meaningful response.
IDRA was founded as Texans for Education Excellence in 1973. The name was changed to Intercultural Development Research Association in 1975. In recent years, the initials. IDRA, are more commonly used.
Get info on IDRA’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2023.
To have the most impact, IDRA uniquely concentrates on all four domains that affect systemic equity: policy and legal analysis, educator and student support, research and data analysis, and family and community engagement.
IDRA bases our work on research and data and works to better public education across the nation.
For over 50 years, IDRA has worked to ensure that all students have equal educational opportunities. We focus on those students from communities that have historically been underserved like Black and Latino students and students from families with limited means.
We do this by empowering student and parent leaders. We do this by training thousands of teachers each year across the country. We do this by putting research into the hands of advocates and lawmakers. And we do this by supporting our community to join us in advocating education justice through public policy.
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September 30, 2026 Students have long used their voices to influence schools, public policy and democracy. IDRA and SEAT discuss student protests and advocacy, constitutional
