Merit Institute Merit

The South Carolina Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (SC-MEWRA)

South Carolina state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the Education Scholarship Trust Fund ESA (Act 8, 2023 / as reinstated), the SC charter-school framework, and SC CHE performance-based funding.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (SC-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. South Carolina General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to House Education and Public Works / Ways and Means and Senate Education / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that South Carolina enacted the Education Scholarship Trust Fund Act under S.C. Code Sec. 59-8-100 et seq. (Act 8, 2023; as reinstated by subsequent legislation after judicial review); that the SC Public Charter School District and SC Department of Education authorize charter schools under S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 40; that the Commission on Higher Education administers performance-based funding under S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 103; that DEW administers Individual Training Accounts through Local Workforce Development Boards under S.C. Code Title 41; and that SC publishes A-F school report-card ratings under the Education Accountability Act (S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 18). This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “South Carolina outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the South Carolina Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“SC-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “ESTF” means the Education Scholarship Trust Fund under S.C. Code Sec. 59-8-100.
  3. (c) “DEW ITA” means a training account under S.C. Code Title 41.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing South Carolina Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • S.C. Code Sec. 59-8-100 et seq. (ESTF).
  • S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 40 (charter schools).
  • S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 103 (Commission on Higher Education).
  • S.C. Code Title 41 (DEW; workforce).
  • S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 18 (Education Accountability Act).

TITLE II — SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of SC-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Superintendent of Education shall designate, within existing charter-authorizer infrastructure under S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 40, a South Carolina Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“SC-OBSA”) operating alongside the SC Public Charter School District.
  2. (b) SC-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 S.C. Code Title 59 Ch. 40.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. Education Scholarship Trust Fund Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating education-service provider under the Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program under S.C. Code Sec. 59-8-100 et seq., provided it meets the Program’s other participating-provider requirements.
  2. (b) The Department of Education shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently for administrative purposes.

Sec. 302. DEW Individual Training Accounts

  1. (a) DEW shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of ITA disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the SC-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Through the South Carolina ETPL under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3152 and S.C. Code Title 41.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. South Carolina Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) SC-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year post-completion earnings medians; post-completion licensure, SCRMC, or Federal FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office data warehouse and DEW 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 S.C. Code Ch. 30-4 (Freedom of Information Act) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of ESTF eligibility; SC-OBSA Registry suspension; administrative penalty up to $500,000 per willful violation, consistent with Title 59 Ch. 40 enforcement.
  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 July 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: MEWRA. Other South Carolina bills: SC-ACSA, SC-GT&P, SC-AI-Workforce.