JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to legislation that would allow tenured St. Louis teachers to be fired for “incompetency.”

The bill (SB125) is sponsored by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, a Democrat from St. Louis. She told colleagues Wednesday the measure brings the school district in line with standards for the rest of the state.

Missouri law now allows tenured teachers in St. Louis teachers to be terminated for “inefficiency” on the job, but not for incompetence.

Nasheed’s bill would also let St. Louis district dismiss ineffective and incompetent teachers after 30 days, instead of waiting the current one semester.

The measure needs one more Senate vote before moving to the House.

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