The House passed legislation Tuesday that would green-light the District of Columbia mayor’s plan to take over the city’s embattled public school system.

While hotly contested in the District, the plan has broad support in Congress. Lawmakers have expressed frustration with the District’s under-performing students and poorly managed finances.

The bill (HR 2080) would amend the Home Rule Charter that governs the District to give Mayor Adrian Fenty control over the budget and the bulk of administrative functions for public schools.

The City Council approved the changes, 9-2, on April 19, but the charter requires Congress to sign off on them.

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved the measure by voice vote last week with little discussion. All who spoke at the markup, including the bill’s sponsor, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., supported the plan.

“The last thing that Congress wants to do is get in the way or slow a difficult school-restructuring process,” said Norton.

The measure also would give Fenty control over a proposed 10-year, $2.3 billion bid to upgrade and improve school facilities. In addition, the City Council would get line-item budget control and would have the authority to rescind Fenty’s control if he does not show “sufficient progress in education” within five years.

The school board would set academic standards and teacher certification requirements. Under the changes, the school superintendent would be known as the chancellor. That person would be nominated by the mayor and approved by the council and would report directly to the mayor.

A spokeswoman for Norton said her staff is working to ensure that the bill clears Congress as soon as possible.

“The challenges that have faced the District’s public schools are extreme and have been well-documented,” said Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. She added that the upcoming school year, which will begin in August, adds “a sense of urgency to this bill.”

The House passed the legislation by voice vote under suspension of the rules, which limits debate, bars amendments and requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

The takeover plan has been sharply debated in the District since Fenty proposed it while running for mayor. Although everyone agrees changes are needed to improve area schools, two council members have said giving Fenty full control is not the best solution.

A similar plan by Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, which has the nation’s largest school system, is credited with improving test scores and graduation rates there.