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The Oklahoma Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (OK-MEWRA)

Oklahoma state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit (refundable; 2023), Oklahoma charter-school framework, and State Regents' postsecondary funding-formula reforms.

THE OKLAHOMA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (OK-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Oklahoma Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House Common Education / Appropriations and Budget and Senate Education / Appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Oklahoma enacted the refundable Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit under Okla. Stat. Title 68 Sec. 2357.206 (2023); that Oklahoma’s charter-school statute operates under Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3-130 et seq.; that the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and the State Board of Education serve as authorizers; that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education operate a funding-allocation policy that includes performance-based elements under Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3206; that the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development administers Individual Training Accounts through Local Workforce Development Boards under Okla. Stat. Title 40 Ch. 15; and that the Oklahoma Department of Education publishes the annual A-F School Report Card under Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 1210.545. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH OKLAHOMA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Oklahoma outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Oklahoma Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“OK-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “Parental Choice Credit” means the refundable credit under Okla. Stat. Title 68 Sec. 2357.206.
  3. (c) “WFD ITA” means a training account issued under Okla. Stat. Title 40 Ch. 15.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Oklahoma Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Okla. Stat. Title 68 Sec. 2357.206 (Parental Choice Tax Credit).
  • Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3-130 et seq. (charter schools).
  • Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3206 (State Regents funding policy).
  • Okla. Stat. Title 40 Ch. 15 (workforce development).
  • Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 1210.545 (A-F Report Card).

TITLE II — OKLAHOMA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of OK-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education shall designate, within existing charter-authorizer infrastructure under Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3-132, an Oklahoma Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“OK-OBSA”) operating alongside the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.
  2. (b) OK-OBSA shall authorize provisional schools without requiring accreditation by any regional accrediting body.

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 Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3-130 et seq.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. Parental Choice Tax Credit — Participating School Status

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as an “eligible private school” under the Parental Choice Tax Credit regulations, provided it meets other program requirements under Okla. Stat. Title 68 Sec. 2357.206.
  2. (b) The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently for administrative purposes.

Sec. 302. WFD Training Accounts

  1. (a) The Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of WFD ITA disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the OK-OBSA Registry or the Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Through the Oklahoma Eligible Training Provider List under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3152.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Oklahoma Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) OK-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year post-completion earnings medians; post-completion licensure, OKRMC, or Federal FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources include the Oklahoma Education and Workforce Information System and Oklahoma Employment Security Commission wage records, to the extent permitted by law.

Sec. 402. Coordination with the Federal NLMF

  1. (a) Registry crosswalked to Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Nothing authorizes disclosure of PII except as permitted under Okla. Stat. Title 70 Sec. 3-168 and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Provisional school failing to publish or publishing materially false metrics: suspension of Parental Choice Credit eligibility; OK-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 November 1 of the year following enactment.

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