Merit Institute Merit

The Minnesota Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (MN-MEWRA)

Minnesota state companion to MEWRA. Uses the Minnesota Charter Schools Act (M.S. Ch. 124E) and Postsecondary Enrollment Options (M.S. Sec. 124D.09). Minnesota does not operate an ESA or tax-credit scholarship.

THE MINNESOTA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (MN-MEWRA)

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Minnesota authorizes public charter schools under M.S. Ch. 124E; that Postsecondary Enrollment Options operate under M.S. Sec. 124D.09; that the Department of Education publishes the Minnesota Report Card; that the Governor’s Workforce Development Board operates under M.S. Ch. 116L; and that Minnesota does not operate an ESA or tax-credit scholarship. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with Minnesota’s public-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MINNESOTA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Minnesota outcome-based school” means a public charter school authorized under Title II by the Minnesota Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“MN-OBSA”) under M.S. Ch. 124E.
  2. (b) “GWDB” means the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.
  3. (c) “PSEO pathway” has the meaning given in M.S. Sec. 124D.09.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Minnesota Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • M.S. Ch. 124E (charter schools).
  • M.S. Sec. 124D.09 (PSEO).
  • M.S. Ch. 116L (GWDB).

TITLE II — MINNESOTA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of MN-OBSA

  1. (a) The Commissioner of Education, in coordination with charter-school authorizers under M.S. Sec. 124E.05, shall designate a Minnesota Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“MN-OBSA”).
  2. (b) MN-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 M.S. Ch. 124E.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY (Charter & PSEO Rewire)

Sec. 301. Charter and PSEO Funding

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school operating as a public charter under M.S. Ch. 124E is entitled to per-pupil general education revenue under M.S. Sec. 126C on the same terms as other public charters.
  2. (b) MN-OBSA schools may participate in PSEO pathways under M.S. Sec. 124D.09.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

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

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Minnesota Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) MN-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/MNRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: DEED wage records and MDE longitudinal data.

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 Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (M.S. Ch. 13) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of MN-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.

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