GIA Education Report: New Student Rights Laws, RCOE Esports Arena & Scholarships for Black Scholars

Welcome to the GIA Education Report. With the latest in Southern California education news, I’m Alyssa Silva. 

New laws taking effect in California this year aim to protect student rights and promote inclusivity in education. Assembly Bill 1955 prohibits school boards from requiring staff to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender, safeguarding LGBTQ+ students’ privacy and supporting educators. AB 1821 mandates collaboration with California tribes to include accurate Native American history in future curriculum updates, addressing the impacts of Spanish colonization and the Gold Rush era. Meanwhile, AB 1805 ensures the landmark Mendez v. Westminster desegregation case is highlighted in history lessons. Additionally, AB 1815 extends anti-hair discrimination protections to amateur sports, reinforcing inclusivity for students of color.  

In other news, the proposed Dr. Margaret Hill Academy aims to serve up to 350 San Bernardino students in grades 6-12, with plans to open for the 2025-26 school year pending approval from the San Bernardino school board on January 14. Named after the late Margaret Hill, a revered educator and community leader, the school will focus on social services, dual enrollment opportunities, and project-based learning to address local challenges, such as the absence of bookstores in the city. The charter school will start with 100 students and grow to full capacity within six years, offering a transformative educational model for at-risk students. 

The Brothers of the Desert, a Coachella Valley organization supporting Black men and allies, has launched a scholarship fund in partnership with the Inland Empire Community Foundation. The fund will support students from the Inland Empire who have completed two-year college programs or secondary education and are accepted into a four-year college or university in the U.S. Applications open next month, aiming to ease financial burdens and create pathways for Black men to succeed. This initiative reflects the organization’s mission to empower and uplift through education. 

The Riverside County Office of Education has unveiled The Arena, a state-of-the-art esports and meeting space at its downtown Riverside headquarters. Designed to foster connections among students through competitive gaming, The Arena features over 4,000 square feet of space, accommodating up to 12 players simultaneously and nearly 400 spectators. Beyond competitions, the space includes team rooms, a podcast studio, a tech lounge, and a broadcast control room, supporting students’ interests in esports as a career or college pathway. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on January 8. 

To close this report, we highlight La Sierra University’s efforts to support underserved students. The university recently received a $7.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program. The first $1.5 million installment will help enhance the university’s Health Sciences Pathway Partnership with Loma Linda University, expanding academic opportunities and advancing pathways to graduate degrees and careers. 

And that’s this week’s GIA Education Report, I’m Alyssa Silva.