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The Wisconsin Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (WI-MEWRA)

Wisconsin state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.60, 119.23), Wisconsin charter framework (Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.40), and Wisconsin Fast Forward outcome mechanisms.

THE WISCONSIN MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (WI-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Wisconsin Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Assembly / Senate Education Committee.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Wisconsin operates the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (Wis. Stat. Sec. 119.23), the Racine Parental Choice Program (Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.60), and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.60); that Wisconsin’s Special Needs Scholarship Program operates under Wis. Stat. Sec. 115.7915; that Wisconsin’s charter-school framework operates under Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.40 with independent authorizers including the University of Wisconsin System; that the Wisconsin Technical College System operates under Wis. Stat. Ch. 38; that Wisconsin Fast Forward operates under Wis. Stat. Sec. 106.27; and that Wisconsin publishes school- and district-report cards under Wis. Stat. Sec. 115.385. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH WISCONSIN LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Wisconsin outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Wisconsin Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“WI-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “WPCP” means the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program under Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.60.
  3. (c) “WFF” means Wisconsin Fast Forward under Wis. Stat. Sec. 106.27.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Wisconsin Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.60, 119.23 (Parental Choice Programs).
  • Wis. Stat. Sec. 115.7915 (Special Needs Scholarship).
  • Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.40 (charter schools).
  • Wis. Stat. Sec. 106.27 (Wisconsin Fast Forward).

TITLE II — WISCONSIN OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of WI-OBSA

  1. (a) Independent charter authorizers under Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.40(2r), in coordination with the Department of Public Instruction, may designate a Wisconsin Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“WI-OBSA”) pathway.
  2. (b) WI-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 Wis. Stat. Ch. 115-121.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. Parental Choice Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating school under Wis. Stat. Sec. 118.60, 119.23, and 115.7915 as applicable.
  2. (b) The Department of Public Instruction shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently.

Sec. 302. WFF Disbursements

  1. (a) The Department of Workforce Development shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of WFF disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the WI-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Wisconsin Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) WI-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/WIRMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the Wisconsin Statewide Longitudinal Data System and DWD 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 Wis. Stat. Sec. 19.31 et seq. (Public Records Law) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of WPCP participating status; WI-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 on the first day of the third month following enactment.

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