HB328 » A bill that would create a pilot program to pay elementary school teachers for performance passed in the House 65-7 on Wednesday. It now moves to the Senate.

HB328 would allow elementary schools to apply for competitive grants to help them establish performance pay programs over the course of two years. Now, teachers are paid mainly based on education and experience. It was amended Wednesday to also include classroom-related staff.

Under the program, teachers would receive 40 percent of the performance pay based on "student learning gains," which sponsor Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said could be defined by sch ool districts.

Instructional quality would count for 40 percent and community, parent and student satisfaction would round out the criteria. Another 40 percent would be based on instructional quality as measured by classroom observations or other instruments. The last 20 percent would be based on measures of parent, student or community satisfaction.

Some lawmakers questioned the bill's price tag of $300,000 in a year of budget cuts, but Hughes said the bill is "a strong first step in difficult times."

-- Lisa Schencker