Senate committee passes charter schools bill

The state Senate's Education and Youth Committee passed charter schools legislation Thursday, moving the measure one step closer to a vote by the full Senate.

The legislation, a companion piece to the measure the House of Representatives passed on Wednesday, would allow voters to determine if the state should have the authority to approve and pay for charter schools. It now goes to the Rules Committee and, possibly by early next week, the full Senate.

Bills that would put a referendum before voters must pass the House and the Senate with a two-thirds majority. Republicans, who provide the bulk of support for charter schools, hold 36 seats in the Senate. They'd need all to back the bill and get two Democrats to support it.