A bill that would remove the cap on charter school enrollment growth in Utah has passed both houses of the legislature.

Currently, charter school enrollment in Utah may grow each year by a number only equal to 1.4 percent of total school district enrollment as of the previous school year. SB188 would remove that limitation and instead would base charter school enrollment growth each year on how much money lawmakers appropriate.

Bill sponsor Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, has said he hopes the bill helps Utah qualify for federal Race to the Top money for schools. Utah had applied for $250 million in Race to the Top money to help the state carry out school reforms. The federal government recently announced finalists for that money, and Utah was not among them. Utah can, however, apply again in June if state leaders so choose, and lifting the cap on charter school enrollment growth could help the state win more points the second time around.

A number of states have worked to lift charter school growth caps in recent months to better qualify for the money.

The House passed the bill unanimously Wednesday. It now goes back to the Senate to make sure lawmakers there agree with changes made to the bill Wednesday. If they concur, it would go to the governor.