The Illinois Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (IL-MEWRA)

Illinois state companion to MEWRA. Because the Invest in Kids Act expired in 2023 and Illinois does not currently operate an ESA, this Act uses the Illinois Charter Schools Law (105 ILCS 5/27A) and Early College / Dual Credit pathways.

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

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that the Illinois Charter Schools Law is codified at 105 ILCS 5/27A; that the Illinois Dual Credit Quality Act is codified at 110 ILCS 27; that the Illinois Report Card is published by ISBE under 105 ILCS 5/10-17a; that the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board operates under 20 ILCS 1015; and that the Invest in Kids Act (35 ILCS 40) expired on December 31, 2023, and Illinois does not currently operate a general ESA. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with the public-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH ILLINOIS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

1. (a) “Illinois outcome-based school” means a public charter school authorized under Title II by the Illinois Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“IL-OBSA”) under 105 ILCS 5/27A.
2. (b) “IWIB” means the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.
3. (c) “Dual-credit pathway” has the meaning given in 110 ILCS 27.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Illinois Law

1. (a) Consistent with:

• 105 ILCS 5/27A (Charter Schools Law).
• 110 ILCS 27 (Dual Credit Quality Act).
• 20 ILCS 1015 (IWIB).

TITLE II — ILLINOIS OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of IL-OBSA

1. (a) The Illinois State Board of Education shall designate an Illinois Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“IL-OBSA”) under 105 ILCS 5/27A.
2. (b) IL-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 105 ILCS.
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 105 ILCS 5/27A is entitled to per-pupil Evidence-Based Funding under 105 ILCS 5/18-8.15 on the same terms as other public charters.
2. (b) IL-OBSA schools may participate in Dual Credit partnerships under 110 ILCS 27.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

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

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Illinois Outcome-Metrics Registry

1. (a) IL-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/ILRMC/FRAC attainment.
2. (b) Data sources: the Illinois Longitudinal Data System and IDES 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 Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

1. (a) Suspension of IL-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 the July 1 following enactment.

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