AB 2337 defining Frontier School Districts in California signed into law
SACRAMENTO – On July 1, 2022 AB 2337 authored by Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) was signed by the Governor of California. This bill ensures California’s smallest, rural school districts receive proper recognition as frontier school districts in California Education Code.
AB 2337 will ensure that California’s smallest, rural school districts receive proper recognition by defining Frontier School Districts in the California Education Code. Frontier school districts will be defined in alignment with federal grant requirements as school districts that have annual average daily attendance of less than 600 students and are located in a county with a population of less than 10 persons per square mile.
“This legislation opens the door to ensure students of rural and frontier schools receive more equitable attention and funding from the state,” said Dahle. “Much of the North State and the First Assembly District does not look like the rest of the state, especially our schools. 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 school board president, 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 2337 is the first step towards this end.”
AB 2337 will go into effect January 1, 2023.
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.
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