Local school boards could make the decision to deny a charter school proposal, regardless of what decision is made by the state’s Charter School Commission.

That’s the ultimate goal of a measure that passed the House Monday. Opponents of the measure say House Bill 397 is a backdoor way to squash the public school option altogether.

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Welch’s measure was amended to allow for judicial review of a school board’s decision denying a charter.

The bill narrowly passed 60-41 and now heads to the Senate. Current Illinois regulation allows for only a certain number of charter schools that must be approved by the Charter School Commission.

The majority of the state’s charters are in the Chicagoland area.