Merit Institute Merit

The Hawaii Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (HI-MEWRA)

Hawaii state companion to MEWRA. Uses public charter schools (HRS Chapter 302D) and early-college / Running Start dual-credit pathways. Hawaii does not operate an ESA.

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

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Hawaii authorizes public charter schools under HRS Chapter 302D; that Early College and Running Start dual-credit are authorized in conjunction with the University of Hawaii system; that the Department of Education publishes school performance data; that the Workforce Development Council operates under HRS Chapter 202; and that Hawaii does not operate an ESA. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with Hawaii’s public-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH HAWAII LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Hawaii outcome-based school” means a public charter school authorized under Title II by the Hawaii Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“HI-OBSA”) under HRS Chapter 302D.
  2. (b) “WDC” means the Workforce Development Council.
  3. (c) “Dual-credit pathway” includes Early College and Running Start offered in conjunction with the UH system.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Hawaii Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • HRS Chapter 302D (charter schools).
  • HRS Chapter 304A (UH system, dual credit).
  • HRS Chapter 202 (WDC).

TITLE II — HAWAII OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of HI-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Public Charter School Commission, under HRS Chapter 302D, shall serve as the Hawaii Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“HI-OBSA”) for purposes of this Act.
  2. (b) HI-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 HRS Chapter 302D.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

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

Sec. 301. Charter and Dual-Credit Funding

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school operating as a public charter under HRS Chapter 302D is entitled to per-pupil state funding on the same terms as other public charters.
  2. (b) HI-OBSA schools may participate in Early College and Running Start dual-credit.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

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

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Hawaii Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) HI-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/HIRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: Hawaii Department of Education and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations 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 HRS Chapter 92F and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

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