Pennsylvania lawmakers are moving ahead with a proposal to change the rules under which Pennsylvania's charter and cyber-charter schools operate.
The House voted 118 to 78 on Wednesday in favor of a Republican-backed bill that would provide funding for the schools directly from the state Department of Education rather than passing through school districts.
It would save districts an estimated $27 million in what they pay cyber charters, partly by letting them deduct food service costs.
The measure also includes provisions designed to improve accountability, ethics and governance.
Democratic opponents argue it would weaken the state charter appeals board by adding two members from charter schools. They say there's a need for mandatory audits to determine how much the schools spend on education.
The bill was sent to the Senate.
