JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Teachers could get more pay for performing extra duties, and districts would have leeway to offer bonuses for hard-to-fill jobs under legislation approved by the House passed Wednesday.

The measure by Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, passed the House by an announced vote of 110-24 and now moves to the Senate.

The bill allows school districts to offer incentives for teaching hard-to-fill subjects, such as math or science, or for undertaking difficult tasks such as teaching large classes. Teachers could have to agree to teach for up to three years in exchange for the incentives. In addition, the bill would revise a current state law requiring every school board to adopt an annual salary schedule "applicable to all teachers."

Some legislators said deviating from the salary schedule was worrisome.

"We are allowing school districts a tremendous amount of latitude," said Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis.

The bill also prohibits school officials from forcing students to remove religious symbols or clothing unless they are disruptive.

Another provision could mean bigger bonuses for teachers who accept extra duties, such as tutoring. Currently, the Career Ladder program is part of the state's school funding formula. When the formula is not fully funded, as it has not been for a few years, the bonuses are prorated. The bill calls for fully funding the program.

The legislation also requires districts to give teachers severance pay if they are laid off for financial reasons 40 days or more after the governor signs the annual education budget.

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Education bill is HB1041.

On the Net:

Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us