Merit Institute Merit

The Michigan Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (MI-MEWRA)

Michigan state companion to MEWRA. Michigan lacks an ESA or tax-credit scholarship; this Act operates through Michigan's public-school-academy (charter) framework (MCL 380.501 et seq.), Michigan Reconnect, and LEO outcome mechanisms.

THE MICHIGAN MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (MI-MEWRA)

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Michigan does not currently operate a statewide education savings account program or tax-credit scholarship program; that Michigan operates one of the nation’s largest public-school-academy (charter) networks under MCL 380.501 et seq., with authorizers including state public universities and intermediate school districts; that Michigan Reconnect (MCL 390.1701 et seq.) and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship provide postsecondary access; that the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity operates Going PRO Talent Fund and Industry 4.0 grants; and that Michigan publishes school-performance data through MI School Data. This Act extends these frameworks, recognizing that ESA/TCS creation is a separate legislative matter.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MICHIGAN LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Michigan outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Michigan Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“MI-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “PSA” means a public-school-academy under MCL 380.501 et seq.
  3. (c) “Going PRO” means the Going PRO Talent Fund grant program.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Michigan Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • MCL 380.501 et seq. (Public School Academies).
  • MCL 390.1701 et seq. (Michigan Reconnect).
  • MCL 408 (labor; Going PRO administered by LEO).

TITLE II — MICHIGAN OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of MI-OBSA

  1. (a) Authorizing bodies under MCL 380.501(2) may designate a Michigan Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“MI-OBSA”) pathway with State Board of Education coordination.
  2. (b) MI-OBSA shall authorize provisional public-school-academies 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 MCL 380.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — PUBLIC-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. PSA Per-Pupil Funding Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized public-school-academy receives per-pupil funding under the State School Aid Act of 1979 (MCL 388.1601 et seq.) on the same basis as other public-school-academies.

Sec. 302. LEO Training Grants

  1. (a) LEO shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of Going PRO Talent Fund and Industry 4.0 disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the MI-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Michigan Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) MI-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/MIRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the Michigan Statewide Longitudinal Data System (Center for Educational Performance and Information) and UIA 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 MCL 15.231 et seq. (Freedom of Information Act) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) MI-OBSA Registry suspension and 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 90 days following enactment.

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