Assemblywoman Dahle Introduces Legislation To Ensure Frontier School Districts Receive Proper Designation

AB 2034 defines Frontier School Districts in California law.

SACRAMENTO – On January 30, 2020 newly elected Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) introduced her first bill, AB 2034 which ensures California’s smallest, rural school districts receive proper recognition as frontier school districts in California Education Code.

The bill conforms California law with the federal definition of frontier school districts, as the state currently lacks legal designation for these rural school sites. AB 2034 would designate as frontier any school district with an average daily attendance of 600 or fewer students, or a school operating in a county with a population fewer than 10 persons per square mile.

“Much of the North State and the First Assembly District does not look like the rest of the state, especially our schools.” Said Dahle. “California’s failure to statutorily recognize frontier school districts perpetuates one-size-fits all approaches to education policy and funding that often overlook the needs of our rural communities. As a former member of the Big Valley Joint Unified School Board, I have an intimate understanding of the unique challenges facing frontier school districts. Recognition is the first step towards creating effective public policy that addresses the needs of frontier schools. AB 2034 is the first step towards this end.”

Assemblywoman Dahle sits on the Assembly Education Committee, which will consider AB 2034 this spring.

Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Butte and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.