AUGUSTA -- House members backed a bill Friday that would allow charter schools in Maine, one day after the Senate voted 22-13 against the legislation.

House members voted 72-65 to allow the public, independently run schools.

The House bill allows 10 charter schools in Maine during a 10-year pilot period. The schools, which are free from many of the regulations governing locally funded public schools, could be commissioned by local school boards or universities with education programs.

The bill, an amended version of the legislation sponsored by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, would also generally limit a charter school's enrollment to 5 percent of a district's students. In addition, the bill would deny a charter school operator the right to appeal an authorizer's decision to end a charter.

The legislation now returns to the Senate, where members Thursday said allowing charter schools would divert money from local school districts.

Maine is one of 10 states that do not allow charter schools, putting in doubt the state's ability to secure federal funds targeted at education reform.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has hinted that states that do not allow charter schools might be ineligible for funds from a $4.35 billion innovation account, which is part of the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package.

Maine's largest teachers' union and groups representing the state's school boards, superintendents and principals have said the independent schools would direct too much funding away from school districts.

Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, ext. 435

mstone@centralmaine.com