Washington Senate passes charter school fix

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Senate has passed a bill that seeks a legal fix to the state's charter schools in light of a state Supreme Court ruling that found the system unconstitutional.

The chamber passed Senate Bill 6194 on a 27-20 vote Wednesday, and the measure now heads to the House.

The bill mirrors the voter-approved 2012 initiative that created charter schools, with a change in the way the schools are financed. It would fund charter schools through the state's Opportunity Pathways Account, which has revenue from the state lottery.

The charter system previously received money from the same place as traditional public schools, but the Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional last fall.

In striking down the charter school law, the high court took issue that charter schools were supported with state dollars but governed by a board not elected by residents.