Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for students to take classes online. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

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PHOENIX, May 15 (UPI) -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill which would have made broad changes to the state's online education system, officials say.

Senate Bill 1259 would have made it easier for junior and high school students to take online courses from a "master list" of courses approved by the state. Any online class currently offered would be automatically added to the list, but starting in 2019, courses would need to be submitted to the state for approval, The Arizona Republic reported.

The bill also would have required supervision for final exams to prevent cheating.

Brewer expressed concerns that it might be inappropriate for the state "or an entity on behalf of the state approving online courses or curriculum," in a letter accompanying her veto Monday.

In response to a provision would have provided schools with more state funding per student if the student mastered a subject, Brewer said: "I strongly support moving forward toward funding outcomes; however [the Arizona Department of Education] may not be able to implement the systems properly, at least as the bill is drafted."

Online K-12 education is becoming more popular across the country, with the number of students in Arizona online schools reaching nearly 37,000 in the 2010-2011 school year, almost tripling over the last six years, The Arizona Republic reported.

As online education becomes more widespread, so have concerns regarding the quality of the classes. In an investigative series, The Republic found there to be relatively lax oversight and ample opportunities for cheating.

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Arizona Gov. Brewer vetoes online education bill