BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation backed by teachers and Idaho school boards calling for an end to using seniority as the only factor in deciding layoffs has passed the Senate. The bill allows school boards to also consider performance reviews and student achievement when making staff reductions.

The changes effectively reduce the practice of limiting layoffs to new teachers. The Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday in favor of the legislation and sent it along to the governor's desk. The Idaho Education Association teachers union got behind the bill and its one-year sunset clause.

The IEA and school board officials will take time in the next year to study the effectiveness of the change and make recommendations for how to proceed in the future.

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