SACRAMENTO – California Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas' Assembly Bill 23, which authorizes and protects single gender institutions and educational programs, was recently signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Assemblymember Ridley-Thomas' highest policy priority is promoting expanded opportunity for families and children. This bill gives parents access to a specifically tailored curriculum, like the Mid-City's Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA), Southeast Los Angeles' Boys Academic Leadership Academy (BALA), and Koreatown's Young Oak Kim Academywhich all focus on eliminating disparity in STEM fields.
The bipartisan legislation (which sanctions single gender instructional settings for six years, with up to 1,000 pupils per site, and requires substantial reporting on student performance) enjoyed broad support by legislators during the policy development process and takes effect immediately to allow these schools to continue seamless operations. Assemblymember Ridley-Thomas, partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and State Senator Holly Mitchell to ensure passage of Assembly Bill 23.
"GALA, which is in my 30th Senate District, is already proving to be an impactful leadership-development option for students districtwide," said Senator Holly J. Mitchell, who has been an active supporter of GALA since its inception. "As the chair of the Select Committee on Women and Inequality, I've heard countless testimonies and read numerous reports as to the negative effects of implicit bias against women, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics related fields. Women and women of color aren't targeted, steered, or directed to technical internships, jobs, or opportunities.
Research shows that single gender schools create an environment that encourages a culture of academic achievement — where it's cool to be smart — and equips students with self-confidence and leadership skills.