Merit Institute Merit

The Pennsylvania Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (PA-MEWRA)

Pennsylvania state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (72 P.S. Sec. 8701-F et seq.), Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit, Pennsylvania charter law (Public School Code Art. XVII-A), and PAsmart outcome mechanisms.

THE PENNSYLVANIA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (PA-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Pennsylvania General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Education Committee.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Pennsylvania operates the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) under 72 P.S. Sec. 8701-F et seq. and related Tax Reform Code provisions, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development; that Pennsylvania’s charter-school law operates under the Public School Code of 1949 Art. XVII-A (24 P.S. Sec. 17-1701-A et seq.); that the State Charter School Appeal Board operates under 24 P.S. Sec. 17-1721-A; that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry operates the Industry Partnerships and PAsmart programs; and that the Pennsylvania Department of Education publishes the Future Ready PA Index. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH PENNSYLVANIA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Pennsylvania outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Pennsylvania Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“PA-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “EITC” means the Educational Improvement Tax Credit under 72 P.S. Sec. 8701-F et seq.
  3. (c) “OSTC” means the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit under 72 P.S. Sec. 8702-G et seq.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Pennsylvania Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 72 P.S. Sec. 8701-F et seq. (EITC).
  • 72 P.S. Sec. 8702-G et seq. (OSTC).
  • 24 P.S. Art. XVII-A (charter schools).
  • 43 P.S. (PAsmart / Industry Partnerships).

TITLE II — PENNSYLVANIA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of PA-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Charter School Appeal Board, in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, shall designate a Pennsylvania Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“PA-OBSA”) under 24 P.S. Sec. 17-1721-A.
  2. (b) PA-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 24 P.S.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. EITC / OSTC Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as an approved scholarship recipient under 72 P.S. Sec. 8701-F et seq. and Sec. 8702-G et seq.
  2. (b) The Department of Community and Economic Development and approved Scholarship Organizations shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently.

Sec. 302. PAsmart / Industry Partnership Disbursements

  1. (a) The Department of Labor and Industry shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of PAsmart / Industry Partnership disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the PA-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Pennsylvania Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) PA-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/PARMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Longitudinal Data System and L&I 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 65 P.S. Sec. 67.101 et seq. (Right-to-Know Law) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of EITC/OSTC participating status; PA-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 60 days following enactment.

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