Merit Institute Merit

The Kansas Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (KS-MEWRA)

Kansas state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program (K.S.A. Sec. 72-4351 et seq.), Kansas charter framework (K.S.A. Sec. 72-4204 et seq.), and Kansas Department of Commerce / KANSASWORKS.

THE KANSAS MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (KS-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Kansas Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate K-12 Education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Kansas operates the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program under K.S.A. Sec. 72-4351 et seq.; that Kansas authorizes public charter schools under K.S.A. Sec. 72-4204 et seq.; that the Kansas State Department of Education publishes the Kansas Report Card; that the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Workforce System operate under K.S.A. Ch. 74 Art. 50; and that KANSASWORKS operates as the state workforce-services platform. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH KANSAS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Kansas outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Kansas Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“KS-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “KS-LISP” means the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program under K.S.A. Sec. 72-4351 et seq.
  3. (c) “KWS” means the Kansas Workforce System.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Kansas Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • K.S.A. Sec. 72-4351 et seq. (Low Income Students Scholarship).
  • K.S.A. Sec. 72-4204 et seq. (charter schools).
  • K.S.A. Ch. 74 Art. 50 (Department of Commerce / Workforce).

TITLE II — KANSAS OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of KS-OBSA

  1. (a) The Kansas State Board of Education shall designate a Kansas Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“KS-OBSA”) under K.S.A. Sec. 72-4204 et seq.
  2. (b) KS-OBSA shall authorize provisional 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 K.S.A. Ch. 72.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. KS-LISP Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a qualified school under K.S.A. Sec. 72-4351 et seq.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

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

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Kansas Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) KS-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/KSRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: Kansas Labor Market Information Services and Department of Labor 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 K.S.A. Sec. 45-215 et seq. (Open Records) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of KS-LISP participating status; KS-OBSA 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 July 1 of the year following enactment.

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