SACRAMENTO – On July 8, 2021, Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) made the following statement regarding her opposition to Assembly Bill 130 (Budget):
“Although Democrats are touting that this year’s budget contains record levels of funding for students, many will lose out due to the unequal funding model contained in AB 130. As a former member of a school board, I understand the importance of local control and decision-making, and this bill takes the completely wrong approach. It allocates billions to expand categorical programs, which come with burdensome requirements, increase administrative workload, and place an emphasis on program compliance rather than allowing local flexibility and comprehensive solutions based on local needs. In these unprecedented times, our locals need flexibility and this moves in the wrong direction.
“Even though the supermajority in Sacramento failed to pass detrimental legislation to ban nonclassroom-based charter schools by a key legislative deadline, today they circumvented the rules to bring up the issue through the budget process. Not only does this completely undermine the legislative process, it also disenfranchises thousands of students and parents throughout the state who actively opposed prior legislation that would restrict school choice.
“AB 130 also continues to unequally fund charter schools and extends a ban on any new nonclassroom-based charter schools, which could not come at a worse time. Parents are desperate for educational options as they are trying to do what’s best for their children. This bill is another in a long line of attempts by the supermajority to take away a parent’s right to choose what educational model works best for their family, and I am strongly opposed to this attack on school choice.”
AB 130 passed the Assembly floor on a vote of 61-11, with seven members not voting. Assemblywoman Dahle has been a strong advocate for school choice throughout her tenure in the legislature, and has opposed legislation that would harm charter schools.
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.