TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The House's education panel cleared a bill that would give Florida parents a vote on turnaround plans for failing public schools.
    
The House Education committee Friday cleared the "Parent Empowerment in Education Act" (HB 867) on a 10-7 vote.
    
It's also known informally as the "parent trigger" bill. It would allow parents to vote on what to do with a failing school. Options include reassigning students to other schools or handing the school over to a private company to run as a charter school.
    
Opponents say it's a back-door way to hand public schools over to private educational companies. Backers say that it will encourage parents to get involved in their children's education.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)