Merit Institute Merit

The Oregon Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (OR-MEWRA)

Oregon state companion to MEWRA. Uses public charter schools (ORS Chapter 338) and dual-enrollment pathways. Oregon does not operate an ESA.

THE OREGON MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (OR-MEWRA)

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislative Assembly finds that Oregon authorizes public charter schools under ORS Chapter 338; that Expanded Options/accelerated-learning dual-enrollment is authorized under ORS 340.005 et seq.; that the Oregon Department of Education publishes school performance data; that the Workforce and Talent Development Board operates under ORS Chapter 660; and that Oregon does not operate an ESA. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with Oregon’s public-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH OREGON LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Oregon outcome-based school” means a public charter school authorized under Title II by the Oregon Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“OR-OBSA”) under ORS Chapter 338.
  2. (b) “Workforce Board” means the Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board.
  3. (c) “Dual-enrollment pathway” has the meaning given in ORS 340.005 et seq.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Oregon Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • ORS Chapter 338 (charter schools).
  • ORS 340.005 et seq. (Expanded Options).
  • ORS Chapter 660 (Workforce Board).

TITLE II — OREGON OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of OR-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education shall designate an Oregon Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“OR-OBSA”) under ORS Chapter 338.
  2. (b) OR-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 ORS Chapter 338.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

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

Sec. 301. Charter and Dual-Enrollment Funding

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school operating as a public charter under ORS Chapter 338 is entitled to State School Fund distributions on the same terms as other public charters.
  2. (b) OR-OBSA schools may participate in Expanded Options dual-enrollment.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

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

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Oregon Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) OR-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/ORRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Employment Department wage records.

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 Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.311 et seq.) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of OR-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 91st day following adjournment sine die.

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