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The North Dakota Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (ND-MEWRA)

North Dakota state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the North Dakota Education Savings Account Act (HB 1540, 2025), North Dakota charter framework (N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15.1-34), and ND Workforce Development infrastructure.

THE NORTH DAKOTA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (ND-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. North Dakota Legislative Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislative Assembly finds that North Dakota enacted the Education Savings Account Act under HB 1540 (2025), establishing an ESA for eligible students, administered by the Office of the State Superintendent; that North Dakota’s public-school-choice framework includes open enrollment under N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15.1-31; that N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15.1-34 governs alternative high schools; that the North Dakota University System operates a comprehensive community-college network; and that Job Service North Dakota coordinates training through the ND Workforce Development Council. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NORTH DAKOTA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “North Dakota outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the North Dakota Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“ND-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “ND-ESA” means the Education Savings Account Act enacted via HB 1540 (2025).
  3. (c) “JSND ITA” means a Job Service North Dakota training account under N.D. Cent. Code Title 52.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing North Dakota Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • HB 1540 (2025) North Dakota Education Savings Account Act.
  • N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15.1-31 (open enrollment).
  • N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15.1-34 (alternative high schools).
  • N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15-10 (University System).
  • N.D. Cent. Code Title 52 (Job Service).

TITLE II — NORTH DAKOTA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of ND-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in coordination with the State Board of Higher Education, shall designate a North Dakota Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“ND-OBSA”) under N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 15.1-34.
  2. (b) ND-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 N.D. Cent. Code Title 15.1.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. ND-ESA Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating provider under the North Dakota Education Savings Account Act.
  2. (b) The Office of the State Superintendent shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently.

Sec. 302. JSND Training Accounts

  1. (a) Job Service North Dakota shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of training-account disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the ND-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. North Dakota Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) ND-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/NDRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the North Dakota Statewide Longitudinal Data System and JSND 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 N.D. Cent. Code Sec. 44-04-18 et seq. (Open Records) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of ND-ESA participating status; ND-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 North Dakota bills: ND-ACSA, ND-GT&P, ND-AI-Workforce.