Merit Institute Merit

The Louisiana Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (LA-MEWRA)

Louisiana state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the LA GATOR ESA (Act 1, 2024), Louisiana charter framework (La. R.S. 17:3981 et seq.), and LCTCS performance infrastructure.

THE LOUISIANA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (LA-MEWRA)

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Louisiana enacted the LA GATOR Scholarship Program under Act 1 of 2024, codified at La. R.S. 17:4045.1 et seq. (a universal ESA phased in beginning school year 2025-26); that Louisiana’s charter-school framework operates under La. R.S. 17:3981 et seq. with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and local school boards as authorizers; that the Louisiana Board of Regents administers performance-funding policies under La. R.S. 17:3128 and the Louisiana GRAD Act framework; that LWC administers Individual Training Accounts; and that Louisiana publishes school-performance scores and A-F ratings under La. R.S. 17:10.1. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH LOUISIANA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Louisiana outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Louisiana Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“LA-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “LA GATOR” means the LA GATOR Scholarship Program under La. R.S. 17:4045.1 et seq.
  3. (c) “LWC ITA” means an Individual Training Account under LWC administration.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Louisiana Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • La. R.S. 17:4045.1 et seq. (LA GATOR).
  • La. R.S. 17:3981 et seq. (charter schools).
  • La. R.S. 17:3128 et seq. (Board of Regents; performance funding).
  • La. R.S. 17:1871 et seq. (LCTCS).
  • La. R.S. 23 (LWC).
  • La. R.S. 17:10.1 (school-performance scores).

TITLE II — LOUISIANA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of LA-OBSA

  1. (a) BESE shall designate, within existing charter-authorizer infrastructure under La. R.S. 17:3983, a Louisiana Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“LA-OBSA”).
  2. (b) LA-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 La. R.S. 17:3981.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. LA GATOR Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating education-service provider under LA GATOR under La. R.S. 17:4045.1 et seq.
  2. (b) The Department of Education shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently.

Sec. 302. LWC Individual Training Accounts

  1. (a) LWC shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of ITA disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the LA-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Through the Louisiana ETPL under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3152 and La. R.S. 23.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Louisiana Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) LA-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year post-completion earnings medians; post-completion licensure, LARMC, or Federal FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the LA Statewide Longitudinal Data System (LDOE / LWC / Board of Regents partnership) and LWC wage records, to the extent permitted by law.

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 La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. (Public Records) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of LA GATOR eligibility; LA-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 August 1 of the year following enactment.

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