By Liz Sidoti
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would increase state oversight of charter schools, but also allow more of them in other parts of the state. It would also provide the schools more financial stability.

The Senate Education Committee on a 5-4 vote sent the bill to the full Senate. The House approved a version of the bill in March.

The bill would cap the number of charter schools that can open in Ohio at 225, but allow the schools to be opened in districts under academic watch.

Under current law, charter schools can be sponsored only in Ohio's 21 urban districts and in districts in academic emergency.

The bill also lets charter schools borrow money for longer than one year. In addition, it removes the Ohio Department of Education as a sponsor for new schools and instead allows four types of groups to sponsor charter schools: Ohio school districts; the 13 public four-year universities; educational service centers and educationally oriented nonprofit groups.