This document contains the 10 issues of the IDRA Newsletter published in 2002. The newsletter disseminates research findings, descriptions of successful programs and reforms, and other information related to equality of educational opportunity, focusing on Hispanic students, bilingual education, and Texas. Articles are: "Successful Bilingual…

This issue has a special, multi-article section on student testing in Texas and contains three additional and unrelated articles. "The Texas Testing Case Documents: G.I. Forum, et al. v. Texas Education Agency, et al." section has five articles: "Overview" (Roger Clegg); a copy of the "First Amended Complaint";…

A study assessed an intensive fluency intervention for low-achieving at-risk beginning Spanish readers in grades 1-2. Data from 53 first- and second-graders in bilingual classrooms in southeast Texas indicated that implementing intensive reading fluency interventions in bilingual classrooms is feasible and valuable if conducted with fidelity and…

A study of four high-performing third-grade Spanish reading programs in Texas found six common features: explicit support for Spanish literacy and biliteracy; high expectations; skills-driven reading instruction beginning in kindergarten; shared understanding of program practices; alignment between Spanish and English programs; and explicit…

This supplementary secondary school program reports on the fourth year of a program focused on instructional intervention, parental involvement, and staff development in a school district with a 46% at-risk student population; more than 630 students were preliterate or limited education Hispanics. In this fourth year, the program continued to…

This theme issue focuses on the drastic revision of the Texas education code undertaken during the 1995 state legislative session. "Education Policy Reform: Key Points for Districts" (Albert Cortez, Mikki Symonds) outlines critical issues in the legislation that have an impact on educational quality: charter schools exempt from state…

Development and validation of the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) is described. The TOPT, a simulated oral proficiency interview, was developed in French and Spanish as a test of speech skills to be used by the state as part of its certification testing program for French, Spanish, and bilingual education teachers. An introductory chapter…

A study was conducted (1) to determine the need for vocational training among the limited English speaking (LEP) population in Texas; (2) to determine how many LEP students are being served by vocational programs; (3) to set priorities in the training areas; (4) to assess the need and type of support services required to keep LEP students in…

This report presents results of evaluations of elementary and secondary level bilingual education programs in nine Texas school districts, focusing on ways to serve the needs of limited-English-speaking populations. Differing evaluation procedures were used, and the results reflect a wide range of procedures. The report consists of a description…

This field supervisor handbook comprises the final part of a series of three documents which together constitute a guide to the training of the Bilingual-Bicultural Child Development Associate (CDA) Trainer. The handbook consists of two parts: the supervisor guide and the diary of a field supervisor. Part I outlines the roles of the supervisor,…

The thesis briefly analyzed the laws of the State of Texas and of the United States which directly affect the education of Texas Mexican Americans. The legal-political history of "Chicano" education in Texas was traced from the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 to August 1971. The educational "problems" of…

An early education program for migrant children ages three through second grade, the program operates two permanent sites located in Connell and Moses Lake, Washington. A mobile component, operated in La Grulla, Texas during the winter months, follows the migrant children north when their families join the migrant stream from April through October…

An innovative English and Spanish instructional program for grades six through eight in a south Texas district integrates language and content areas, uses both languages, implements literacy strategies typical of elementary programs, accommodates varying Spanish and English proficiency and limited prior schooling, and employs Mexican teachers as…

Select student interns from Indiana University spent 6-15 weeks teaching in schools of the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. An ethnographic study explored ways that cross-cultural teaching experiences affected cross-cultural awareness, self awareness, attitudes toward culturally relevant teaching, understandings of bilingual education, and…

This newsletter includes five articles on gender equity and related issues in education, with particular reference to the education of Hispanic girls. "IDRA's MIJA Program Expands" (Aurora Yanez-Perez) describes a program for sixth-grade Hispanic girls that promotes awareness of science- and math-related careers, provides training in…