Morgan Craven, J.D., Named
IDRA National Director of Policy
 
San Antonio (January 7, 2019) - IDRA welcomes Morgan Craven, J.D., as the new IDRA National Director of Policy. Ms. Craven is an attorney and director of Texas Appleseed's School-to-Prison Pipeline Project.
 
At IDRA, she will develop leadership within communities, schools, and policymaking bodies to advocate policies that ensure educational opportunity for every child.
 
"IDRA is delighted that Ms. Craven will be leading our policy work with her commitment to access to equitable, high-quality education for all children," said Dr. María "Cuca" Robledo Montecel, IDRA President & CEO. "She brings over a decade of experience in research and providing legal advice on issues of equity, particularly education access, school discipline, and systemic and structural inequities."
          
As new IDRA National Director of Policy beginning January 22, Ms. Craven will support the integration and coordination of national and state policy reform efforts impacting the education of all students, with special emphasis on minority, low-income, English learner and recent immigrant populations.
 
IDRA's work connects with policymakers at all levels of government, public and private educational institutions, advocacy organizations, the broader research community, the media, and individual practitioners in education and related fields. IDRA provides information on policy issues, training on the effective integration of research information and advocacy, and technical assistance in identifying policy issues and developing reform strategies.
 
"I've always been so impressed and inspired by the excellent work done at IDRA," stated Ms. Craven. "I'm excited to be part of the team and work on important issues that impact children."
 
At Texas Appleseed, Ms. Craven led and supported local- and statewide campaigns to address the practices and systems that push children out of school and into the justice system. She has presented research and data to policymakers, collaborated with community-based, state, and national advocacy organizations, and developed policies related to school discipline, school policing and school climate.
 
Prior to her work at Texas Appleseed, Ms. Craven served as a briefing attorney for Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson at the Supreme Court of Texas and as a staff attorney at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, where she represented students with disabilities, and individuals and families in housing and public benefits cases.
 
Ms. Craven received a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

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Media Contact: Christie L. Goodman, APR, at IDRA, 210-444-1710; [email protected]

 
IDRA Policy Issues for Texas in 2019 Released

On the eve of the Texas Legislature's opening day for its 2019 session, IDRA calls attention to seven key policy issues that are essential to the state providing an excellent and equitable education for all children in the state.
  • Fair Funding that Ensures Equity and Excellence for All Students
  • Fair Discipline that Keeps Children in Safe Schools
  • Polies that Keep the Public in Public Education
  • Effective Accountability that Puts Children First and Supports Schools
  • Testing that Doesn't Hurt Children
  • Instruction for English Learners that Ensures Success
  • Higher Education Access that Expands Opportunities
Details and tools are available online.
The Intercultural Development Research Association is an independent, non-profit organization. Our mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college. IDRA strengthens and transforms public education by providing dynamic training; useful research, evaluation, and frameworks for action; timely policy analyses; and innovative materials and programs.

We are committed to the IDRA valuing philosophy, respecting the knowledge and skills of the individuals we work with and build on the strengths of the students and parents in their schools.