The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee today unveiled the first major overhaul of the state's 12-year-old charter school law that would make it easier for schools to be approved but would increase their financial oversight.

Citing The Inquirer's reporting on fiscal abuses at area charter schools, the legislative proposal calls for the creation of an Office of Charter and Cyber Charter Schools within the state Department of Education that would have oversight of charter schools, including the power to investigate complaints of fraud and mismanagement and refer them to law enforcement agencies.

The measure also would improve accountability of charter administrators and board members by tying their performance to state ethics laws and other standards of professional conduct.

The proposed amendments would give colleges and universities the power to approve charters; increase the length of charter renewals from five years to 10; and eliminate all caps on charter school enrollment.

"The Legislature's decision in 1997 to allow the creation of charter schools as an alternative to traditional. . .schools has brought unique educational opportunities to our Commonwealh and provided exciting options and choices for students," Majority Chair Sen. Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola (R., Dauphin), who helped write the 1997 law, said in a statement this morning. "But in the 12 years since the law was initiated, we have learned what works and what does not work with the current law."

State Sen Andrew E. Dinniman (D., West Chester) minority co-chair of the committee, added: "There is a clear need for additional accountability on Pennsylvania's charter school community in order to prevent the abuses we have seen in recent months."

A federal criminal investigation of area charter schools was launched in the spring of 2008 after The Inquirer reported allegations of fiscal mismanagement and nepotism at Philadelphia Academy Charter School.

Two former officials from that Northeast charter school have pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges. The federal probe has spread to at least five other area charter schools.

The Education Committee held a public hearing on the state's charter law in York to gather comments in the spring. Piccola said he would consider holding additional hearings, if necessary, to gather more information "to vet this legislation."

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are free from many of the restrictions of tradional public schools. They are overseen by independent boards.

Approximately 67,000 students across the state are enrolled in charter schools.