Merit Institute Merit

The Alabama Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (AL-MEWRA)

Alabama state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the CHOOSE Act refundable education credit (Act 2024-21), Alabama charter framework (Ala. Code Title 16 Ch. 6F), and ACHE / ACCS performance mechanisms.

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

Vehicle: State passage. Alabama Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Alabama enacted the CHOOSE Act under Act 2024-21, codified at Ala. Code Sec. 16-6J-1 et seq., creating a refundable education credit for use at participating schools; that Alabama’s charter-school framework operates under Ala. Code Title 16 Ch. 6F; that the Alabama Public Charter School Commission authorizes charter schools under Sec. 16-6F-6; that ACHE administers postsecondary coordination under Title 16 Ch. 5; that the Alabama Department of Labor administers training accounts through Alabama Career Center System under Title 25; and that Alabama publishes school-performance data under Ala. Code Sec. 16-6G-3 (A-F report cards, subsequently refined). This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH ALABAMA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Alabama outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Alabama Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“AL-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “CHOOSE” means the CHOOSE Act program under Ala. Code Sec. 16-6J-1 et seq.
  3. (c) “ADOL ITA” means a training account under Ala. Code Title 25.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Alabama Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Ala. Code Sec. 16-6J-1 et seq. (CHOOSE Act).
  • Ala. Code Title 16 Ch. 6F (charter schools).
  • Ala. Code Title 16 Ch. 5 (ACHE).
  • Ala. Code Title 25 (Department of Labor; Alabama Career Center System).
  • Ala. Code Sec. 16-6G-3 (school-performance reporting).

TITLE II — ALABAMA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of AL-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education shall designate, alongside the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, an Alabama Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“AL-OBSA”) under Ala. Code Title 16 Ch. 6F.
  2. (b) AL-OBSA shall authorize provisional schools without requiring regional-accreditor accreditation.

Sec. 202. Outcome-Based Authorization Standard

  1. (a) Authorization requires publication of outcome metrics under Sec. 401.
  2. (b) Facilities, safety, and background-check standards applicable under Title 16 Ch. 6F.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. CHOOSE Act Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating school for CHOOSE purposes under Ala. Code Sec. 16-6J-1 et seq.
  2. (b) The Department of Revenue and Alabama State Department of Education shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently.

Sec. 302. ADOL Training Accounts

  1. (a) ADOL shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of training-account disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the AL-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Through the Alabama ETPL under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3152 and Title 25.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Alabama Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) AL-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/ALRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the Alabama Statewide Longitudinal Data System and ADOL wage records, to the extent permitted by law.

Sec. 402. Coordination with the Federal NLMF

  1. (a) Crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Nothing authorizes disclosure of PII except as permitted under Ala. Code Sec. 36-12-40 (Public Records) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of CHOOSE participating status; AL-OBSA Registry suspension; administrative penalty up to $500,000 per willful violation.
  2. (b) No private right of action.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect October 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: MEWRA. Other Alabama bills: AL-ACSA, AL-GT&P, AL-AI-Workforce.