Merit Institute Merit

The Connecticut Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (CT-MEWRA)

Connecticut state companion to MEWRA. Uses public charter schools (Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 10-66aa et seq.), interdistrict magnet and CTECS, and dual-enrollment/CCP. Connecticut does not operate an ESA.

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

Vehicle: State passage. Connecticut General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Committee on Education / Higher Education and Employment Advancement.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Connecticut authorizes charter schools under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 10-66aa et seq.; that CTECS and interdistrict magnet schools operate under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 10; that the Connecticut Early College Experience and similar dual-enrollment opportunities exist; that the State Department of Education publishes EdSight performance data; that the Governor’s Workforce Council operates under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-3h et seq.; and that Connecticut does not operate an ESA. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with Connecticut’s public-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH CONNECTICUT LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Connecticut outcome-based school” means a public charter, interdistrict magnet, or CTECS school authorized under Title II by the Connecticut Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“CT-OBSA”) under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 10-66aa et seq.
  2. (b) “Workforce Council” means the Governor’s Workforce Council.
  3. (c) “Dual-enrollment pathway” has the meaning given in Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 10, including the Connecticut Early College Experience.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Connecticut Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 10-66aa et seq. (charter schools).
  • Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 10 (public schools, dual enrollment).
  • Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-3h et seq. (Workforce Council).

TITLE II — CONNECTICUT OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of CT-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education shall designate a Connecticut Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“CT-OBSA”) under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 10-66aa et seq.
  2. (b) CT-OBSA shall authorize provisional public charter 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 Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 10.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY (Charter & Dual-Enrollment Rewire)

Sec. 301. Charter and Dual-Enrollment Funding

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school operating as a public charter under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 10-66aa et seq. is entitled to per-pupil state grants on the same terms as other state charters.
  2. (b) CT-OBSA schools may participate in Connecticut Early College Experience and similar dual-enrollment programs.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

  1. (a) The Governor’s Workforce Council shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of WIOA-aligned workforce-program disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the CT-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Connecticut Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) CT-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/CTRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: Connecticut Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network (P20 WIN) wage matches.

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 the Freedom of Information Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 14) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of CT-OBSA authorization; 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 on July 1 of the year following enactment.

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