THE MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (MEWRA)

A Bill to Overhaul Education and Workforce Training Through Measurable Merit and Accountability

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (MEWRA).”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE

To replace outdated accreditation and federal education funding mechanisms with real-time, merit-based measurement systems that ensure funding goes to schools, programs, and training initiatives that demonstrate verifiable student and worker outcomes while aligning education with workforce demands and economic competitiveness.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & STANDARDS

Sec. 101. Key Terms

(a) “Failing School” A public or private educational institution that meets any two of the following conditions over a three-year rolling period:

Declining or stagnant student performance on federally recognized standardized assessments.
Student proficiency rates below 50% in core subjects (math, reading, science).
Graduation rates below 67% for high schools.
Failure to meet established career and college readiness benchmarks (e.g., SAT/ACT thresholds, workforce placement rates).
Negative net outcomes for students, as demonstrated by post-graduation employment rates, income data, or remedial education enrollment.

(b) “Measurable Improvement” Demonstrated, verifiable academic or skill growth assessed through:

Federally recognized standardized assessments (e.g., NAEP, state-specific exams).
Competency-based evaluations, including direct assessments of knowledge and application.
Longitudinal tracking of individual student growth, with adaptive comparisons to peer performance.
Third-party skill validation and certification outcomes (e.g., professional licensing exams, trade skill certifications).
Industry-validated workforce readiness assessments measuring job placement success.

(c) “Learning Outcomes” For an educational institution to qualify for federal funds, it must demonstrate measurable learning outcomes in at least three of the following areas:

Core Subject Mastery – Proficiency in math, reading, writing, and science.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving – Measured through structured reasoning assessments.
College & Career Readiness – Placement rates into higher education or skilled employment.
Retention of Knowledge Over Time – Demonstrated competency six months to one year post-instruction.
Workforce Competency – Job performance evaluations for vocational training programs.
Entrepreneurial & Innovation Readiness – Ability to start and manage new businesses or projects.

TITLE II — FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM

Sec. 201. Federal Education Funds Tied to Measured Outcomes

(a) Creation of the National Learning Measurement Framework (NLMF)

Establishes a federal learning and workforce performance database tracking student skill acquisition, comprehension, and long-term retention.
Institutions must participate in this real-time tracking system to qualify for federal funding.

(b) Defunding Non-Performing Institutions

Any K–12 school, college, or workforce program that fails to demonstrate measurable improvement over 3 consecutive years shall lose federal funding.
Reallocation of funds to high-performing institutions serving similar demographics.

A national, open-access dashboard will provide real-time, anonymized performance data to ensure public transparency in school and workforce training outcomes.

(d) State & Employer Alignment Requirement

Federal education funds shall prioritize schools that align curricula with workforce and industry needs.
Employers will be incentivized to partner with education providers to ensure curricula meet modern labor demands.

TITLE III — ACCREDITATION TRANSITION PLAN & IMPLEMENTATION

Sec. 301. Phased Transition from Traditional Accreditation

(a) Year 1–2: Parallel system with both accreditation and performance-based funding models in place.
(b) Year 3: Performance-based funding expands to 50% of federal education dollars.
(c) Year 4–5: Traditional accreditation is phased out entirely, replaced by merit-based evaluation.

Sec. 302. Alternative Credentialing & Crosswalk with State Licensure Requirements

A National Credentialing Equivalency System (NCES) will integrate:

Alternative skill-based certifications with state professional licensing boards.
Employer-verified job performance data as a recognized substitute for degrees.
Third-party competency assessments for non-degree pathways to licensure.

TITLE IV — AI-DRIVEN ASSESSMENT & DATA PRIVACY PROTECTIONS

Sec. 401. Implementation of AI-Based Performance Tracking

(a) AI-driven assessments must comply with transparency and bias-auditing requirements.
(b) All AI algorithms used for assessments must be publicly documented and subject to periodic third-party review.
(c) Strict security measures must be implemented for student and worker data collected by AI-driven assessments.

Sec. 402. Data Privacy & Security Measures

(a) Encryption & Anonymization Standards

All student and worker data must be stored with end-to-end encryption and anonymized before public reporting.

(b) Limited Data Access

No third-party access to personally identifiable information (PII) without explicit user consent.

Any institution found violating data privacy standards will face funding penalties and legal action.

TITLE V — CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING LAWS

Sec. 501. Repeal of Outdated Federal Education Mandates

(a) No Child Left Behind Act and Race to the Top provisions that rely solely on accreditation-based funding are repealed.
(b) Higher Education Act amendments: Accreditation requirements for federal student aid eligibility are modified to incorporate performance-based evaluation standards.

Sec. 502. Adjustments to Workforce & Licensing Regulations

(a) Occupational licensing boards must incorporate competency-based pathways for licensure where possible.
(b) Federal job applications must recognize alternative credentials and skill-based hiring standards.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & REVIEW

Sec. 601. Federal Oversight & Five-Year Review

(a) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shall oversee compliance and implementation of this Act.
(b) Every five years, a comprehensive review will determine the effectiveness of MEWRA and recommend amendments based on real-world data.