The state Senate has approved a new funding system to support new charter schools in Georgia.

The legislation approved Monday by a vote of 38-14 now heads back to the House for final approval.

Voters will decide in November whether to change the Georgia Constitution so state officials can create new charter schools. Lawmakers voted to allow that referendum after a long-running debate this year at the Statehouse.

The fight came to a head in May when the state Supreme Court found a special commission that created new charter schools was illegal. Republicans and some Democrats decided to change the state constitution to address the court's concern. The bill that passed Monday creates a system for funding any new charter schools.

Tags: charter schools, Georgia Charter School Commission, constitutional amendment, 2012 General Assembly, charter school constitutional amendment