Mo. senator wants to tie teacher pay, performance

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri senators are considering a bill to change how teachers are paid.

Republican Sen. Matt Bartle of Lee's Summit says tenure is keeping bad teachers in Missouri classrooms. His bill would allow districts to adopt merit-based pay. It would also allow various start dates for kindergartners and year-round schools.

Bartle told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday that paying teachers based on their performance is the most important education reform the state could make.

Opponents say teachers are already underpaid and would have no job protection without tenure.