Teacher Bonus Bill Passes House

     PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota House has approved a
modified version of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's plan to give bonuses to
the state's top teachers.
     Representatives voted 41-28 to send the measure to the Senate
for further debate.
     Daugaard proposed giving annual $5,000 bonuses to the top 20
percent of each school district's teachers, based on evaluations
and student performance. The revised plan lets school districts
follow the governor's original plan, create their own teacher
reward plans or not take part at all.
     The bill also would give new math and science teachers annual
bonuses of $8,000 for their first five years of teaching.
     Supporters say the measure will help improve teaching and boost
student achievement.
     But opponents say merit pay systems have never worked in
schools.