IDRA’s New Model Policy Elevates Family and Student Voices in Education
IDRA’s newest model policy package provides policy language for states, school districts, and schools to adopt research-based student and family leadership and engagement strategies.
The package is a blueprint for transforming how schools relate to families and students, moving beyond surface-level communication to build real partnerships rooted in equity, trust and shared leadership.
The tool also includes family engagement resources for schools and an advocacy guide.
The package is available on the IDRA SEEN Model Policy Shop. In the face of laws and school board actions that harm students, IDRA developed this free model policy shop for students, families, educators and communities passionate about ensuring educational equity to prepare students for a strong future.
Designed to Face Challenges in Family and Student Leadership in Schools
All students deserve to attend excellent public schools where they and their families are seen, valued and respected. But across the country, many schools fall short, especially for families of color, those living with limited incomes, families who speak languages other than English, and immigrant communities.
These families often face barriers to participation or are actively excluded from shaping the policies and decisions that affect their children’s education.
At the same time, students are reporting lower levels of engagement, belonging and support than ever before. COVID-19-era supports that once fostered stronger school-community ties have been rolled back, and efforts to rebuild those connections have stalled.
In their place, a wave of so-called “parental rights” legislation has been used to divide communities and silence inclusive education. Rather than empowering all families, these policies often elevate the voices of a few while marginalizing the rest, especially those already underserved by our public schools. Many immigrant families, in particular, are now fearful of engaging with schools at all.
Crucially, IDRA’s model policy tool reframes the role of families from passive participants to active leaders. It calls on schools and districts to engage families and help them lead change. Families are not just stakeholders to be consulted; they are experts, advocates, and co-creators of a better, more just education system.
IDRA’s model policy equips schools and state leaders with the tools they need to make that transformation possible. It provides guiding principles, adaptable policy language, and a robust set of resources for implementation and advocacy.
