Gov. Nathan Deal says he will support a proposed state constitutional amendment that would permit a state commission to approve the formation of charter schools.

Deal said Thursday in Savannah that the future of charter schools will be a major legislative issue next year.

The court decided in May that a law that lets the state approve and fund charter schools over the objection of local school boards violates the state constitution.

Before the law was enacted in 2008, local boards often rejected charter school proposals. It would take a constitutional amendment, approved by two-thirds majorities of both chambers of the legislature and by the people, to set aside the ruling.

He said he won't submit his own proposal but will cooperate with lawmakers who also support a constitutional amendment.

Tags: legislature, Savannah, charter schools, Governor Nathan Deal, state constitutional amendment