OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma House Appropriations Committee has approved a bill its sponsor says would overhaul how charter schools are authorized.

Sen. Clark Jolley, also the committee's chairman, says the bill is meant to improve the quality of the state's charter schools. Charter schools are public schools contracted with local districts that can be more flexible in their teaching styles and curriculum.

The committee approved the bill 16-4, sending it to the full Senate.

If approved, Jolley's bill would form a Public Charter School Commission that would authorize the state's charter schools and act separately from the Education Department. Jolley says the commission would provide consistent and rigorous standards across Oklahoma.

Several committee members questioned whether the focus on charter schools would hurt traditional public schools.