Calling it an "important step" toward his goal of greater choice for South Carolina's parents and students, Gov. Mark Sanford signed into law Wednesday a bill that he said will increase the number of charter schools statewide.

Surrounded by supporters of the legislation in his Wade Hampton Building conference room in Columbia, Sanford said it "has been a priority for us because creating more charter schools in our state would be a great win for every parent and student in South Carolina."

The bill eliminates some bureaucratic roadblocks by offering a route around local school boards that sometimes are hostile to charter schools.

"God makes every child unique, and we believe it makes sense to have a diversity of choices that fits with that diversity of kids," Sanford said, adding thanks to legislative leaders with whom he has often been at odds with over other legislative priorities.

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Two of the five Republican candidates for the nomination for state education superintendent issued statements supporting the new law.

Karen Floyd of Spartanburg called it "innovative legislation (that) is the kind we need in South Carolina. It's an encouraging sign that people understand we need changes to our current education system."

Bob Staton of Lexington said charter schools are the embodiment of everything we should be doing in South Carolina. They give parents more choices, empower teachers with flexibility, give students an atmosphere to thrive, and maximize dollars in the classroom all at the same time.

Floyd is a businesswoman and Staton is the former president of Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co. Incumbent Democrat Inez Tenenbaum is not seeking a third term. Jim Rex, a retired university administrator from Winnsboro, is the Democratic nominee, and Tim Moultrie will represent the Libertarian Party.

The new law creates a statewide public charter school district with authority to approve charter schools.

Under the old law, the lone source of certification was the local school board.

South Carolina has 26 charter schools operating 10 years after they were authorized by the Legislature. By comparison, in the same period North Carolina reached its legal maximum of 100 charter schools several years ago, Sanford's office said.

Sanford said the bill has been "praised by a number of state and national groups as a positive step for the charter school movement in South Carolina."

The new bill still allows charter school operators to seek authorization from local districts, and does not affect the governance or funding of schools currently operating under that arrangement, Sanford's office said in a statement.

Some legislative leaders who helped win passage for the bill joined Sanford for the signing.