Merit Institute Merit

The Vermont Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (VT-MEWRA)

Vermont state companion to MEWRA. Uses approved independent schools (16 V.S.A. §166) and Flexible Pathways / Dual Enrollment under Act 77 (16 V.S.A. §941). Vermont does not authorize public charter schools and does not operate an ESA.

THE VERMONT MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (VT-MEWRA)

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Vermont authorizes approved independent schools under 16 V.S.A. §166; that Flexible Pathways, including Dual Enrollment and Early College, are authorized under 16 V.S.A. §941 et seq. (Act 77); that the Agency of Education publishes school performance data; that the Vermont Department of Labor operates under 21 V.S.A.; and that Vermont does not authorize public charter schools and does not operate an ESA. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with Vermont’s public-school and approved-school framework.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH VERMONT LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Vermont outcome-based school” means an approved independent school authorized under Title II by the Vermont Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“VT-OBSA”) under 16 V.S.A. §166.
  2. (b) “Flexible Pathways” has the meaning given in 16 V.S.A. §941.
  3. (c) “Dual-enrollment pathway” has the meaning given in 16 V.S.A. §944.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Vermont Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 16 V.S.A. §166 (approved independent schools).
  • 16 V.S.A. §941 et seq. (Flexible Pathways / Act 77).
  • 21 V.S.A. (labor).

TITLE II — VERMONT OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of VT-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Agency of Education, shall designate a Vermont Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“VT-OBSA”) under 16 V.S.A. §166.
  2. (b) VT-OBSA shall authorize provisional approved independent 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 16 V.S.A. Chapter 3.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY (Approved Independent School & Flexible Pathway Rewire)

Sec. 301. Approved Independent School Tuitioning

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized approved independent school is entitled to public tuition from sending towns on the same terms as other approved independent schools under 16 V.S.A. §822 and related provisions.
  2. (b) VT-OBSA schools may participate in Dual Enrollment and Early College under 16 V.S.A. §944 and §945.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

  1. (a) The Vermont State Workforce Development Board (21 V.S.A. Chapter 24) shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of WIOA-aligned workforce-program disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the VT-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Vermont Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) VT-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/VTRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: Agency of Education and Department of Labor 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 the Vermont Public Records Act (1 V.S.A. Chapter 5) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of VT-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 July 1 of the year following enactment.

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