COLUMBIA - south carolina Educators and parents hoping to set up charter schools as alternatives to public schools may find that easier with legislation Gov. Mark Sanford signed into law Wednesday.

The law creates a statewide charter school district that would be an alternate route for getting permission to operate when organizers don't want to deal with school boards.

"This bill has been a long time in coming," said Sanford, who signed the bill to shouts of approval and applause.

The governor was surrounded by several legislators, educators and students. Sanford has said parents and their children need education alternatives. "One size never fits all in any process," not just education, Sanford said.

For six years, legislators have tried to pass a variety of changes to the state's charter school laws. Supporters of the statewide charter school district argued districts had too big of a role in deciding to allow publicly funded charter schools that would compete with their schools.

"This will change the landscape for the positive in public education in our great state," Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, said.

Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, said the new measure expands choices for parents. "It shows that people of this state want to give more options to parents and allow for entrepreneurship and innovation within the public school system," Hayes said.

Nelson Smith, president of the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, called the bill trailblazing. He said it puts South Carolina "in the forefront of the campaign to expand quality and choices for kids."