Merit Institute Merit

The Delaware Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (DE-MEWRA)

Delaware state companion to MEWRA. Uses charter schools (Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 5) and dual-enrollment pathways. Delaware does not operate an ESA.

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

Vehicle: State passage. Delaware General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Education / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Delaware authorizes public charter schools under Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 5; that dual-enrollment is authorized under Del. Code Title 14; that the Department of Education publishes school performance data; that the Delaware Workforce Development Board operates under Del. Code Title 29 Chapter 85; and that Delaware does not operate an ESA. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with Delaware’s public-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH DELAWARE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Delaware outcome-based school” means a public charter school authorized under Title II by the Delaware Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“DE-OBSA”) under Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 5.
  2. (b) “Workforce Board” means the Delaware Workforce Development Board.
  3. (c) “Dual-enrollment pathway” has the meaning given in Del. Code Title 14.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Delaware Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 5 (charter schools).
  • Del. Code Title 14 (dual enrollment).
  • Del. Code Title 29 Chapter 85 (Workforce Board).

TITLE II — DELAWARE OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of DE-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall designate a Delaware Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“DE-OBSA”) under Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 5.
  2. (b) DE-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 Del. Code Title 14.
  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 Del. Code Title 14 Chapter 5 is entitled to per-pupil unit funding on the same terms as other public charters.
  2. (b) DE-OBSA schools may participate in dual-enrollment pathways.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

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

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Delaware Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) DE-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/DERMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: Department of Education and Division of Unemployment Insurance wage records.

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 Delaware Freedom of Information Act (Del. Code Title 29 Chapter 100) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of DE-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 Delaware bills: DE-ACSA, DE-GT&P, DE-AI-Workforce.