Merit Institute Merit

The Indiana Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (IN-MEWRA)

Indiana state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the universal Indiana Choice Scholarship Program under Ind. Code Sec. 20-51-4, the Ind. Code Sec. 20-24 charter framework, and CHE performance-funding.

THE INDIANA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (IN-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Indiana General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House Education / Ways and Means and Senate Education and Career Development / Appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Indiana operates the nation’s largest statewide school-choice voucher program under Ind. Code Sec. 20-51-4 (Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, universal as of 2023 HEA 1001); that the Indiana charter-school framework operates under Ind. Code Sec. 20-24; that the Indiana Commission for Higher Education administers performance-funding for postsecondary institutions under Ind. Code Title 21 Art. 18; that the Workforce Ready Grant and Next Level Jobs programs administered by DWD provide training-account-style funding; that Indiana publishes A-F school accountability ratings under Ind. Code Sec. 20-31-8; and that Indiana maintains the Indiana Network of Knowledge longitudinal-data system under Ind. Code Sec. 22-4.5-10. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH INDIANA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Indiana outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Indiana Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“IN-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “CSP” means the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program under Ind. Code Sec. 20-51-4.
  3. (c) “DWD ITA” means a training account issued under Ind. Code Title 22 Art. 4.1 (including Workforce Ready Grant and Next Level Jobs).

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Indiana Law

  1. (a) This Act shall be construed consistently with:
  • Ind. Code Sec. 20-51-4 (Choice Scholarship Program).
  • Ind. Code Sec. 20-24 (charter schools).
  • Ind. Code Title 21 Art. 18 (Commission for Higher Education).
  • Ind. Code Title 22 Art. 4.1 (Department of Workforce Development) and Workforce Ready Grant.
  • Ind. Code Sec. 20-31-8 (school accountability) and Sec. 22-4.5-10 (Indiana Network of Knowledge).

TITLE II — INDIANA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of IN-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education shall designate, within existing charter-authorizer infrastructure under Ind. Code Sec. 20-24-2, an Indiana Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“IN-OBSA”).
  2. (b) IN-OBSA shall authorize provisional schools without requiring accreditation by any regional accrediting body.

Sec. 202. Outcome-Based Authorization Standard

  1. (a) Authorization requires publication of the outcome metrics under Sec. 401.
  2. (b) Schools shall satisfy the facilities, safety, and background-check standards applicable under Ind. Code Sec. 20-24.
  3. (c) Four-year authorization term, renewable on outcome thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. Choice Scholarship Program Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating nonpublic school under the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program under Ind. Code Sec. 20-51-4, provided the school meets the Program’s other participating-school requirements.
  2. (b) The Department of Education, as CSP administrator, shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently to other participating schools for administrative purposes.

Sec. 302. DWD Training Accounts

  1. (a) DWD shall ensure that within 24 months after the effective date of this Act, at least 50 percent of DWD ITA disbursements (including Workforce Ready Grant and Next Level Jobs) flow to providers publishing outcome data in the IN-OBSA Registry or the Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Implementation shall occur through the Indiana Eligible Training Provider List under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3152 and Ind. Code Title 22.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Indiana Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) IN-OBSA shall publish an Indiana Outcome-Metrics Registry reporting completion rate; one- and three-year post-completion earnings medians; post-completion licensure, INRMC, or Federal FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources shall include the Indiana Network of Knowledge under Ind. Code Sec. 22-4.5-10 and DWD wage records to the extent permitted by law.

Sec. 402. Coordination with the Federal NLMF

  1. (a) The Registry shall be crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Nothing in this Title authorizes disclosure of personally identifiable student data except as permitted by Ind. Code Sec. 20-19-3-8 (student education records) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) A provisional school failing to publish outcome metrics or publishing materially false metrics is subject to: suspension of CSP participating-school eligibility; suspension from the IN-OBSA Registry; administrative penalty not to exceed $500,000 per willful violation, consistent with schedule applicable under Ind. Code Sec. 20-24 charter-school enforcement.
  2. (b) No private right of action.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

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

Sec. 602. Effective Date

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

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