AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s Education Committee on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a bill that will equip school districts with a new method to evaluate and fire teachers. 

The bill, LD 1858, was significantly amended following concerns from educators that the original proposal did not provide teachers enough due process and allowed administrators to carry out personal grudges. 

The new version still allows districts to put ineffective teachers on probation if their performance is deemed substandard for two consecutive school years. It also allows teachers to challenge the probation. 

The bill directs the Maine Department of Education to develop broad evaluation guidelines with stakeholders at the state level. However, the drafting and implementation of specific standards will be up to local school districts.

Districts will begin phasing in the standards during the 2013-14 school year with the 2014-15 year acting as a test period. Full implementation will occur in 2015-16.

Districts will also report results of the program to a state-led council comprising stakeholders in the education community. 

The teacher evaluation bill had been a chief concern of the Maine Education Association, which worried the measure would allow superintendents and principals to favor certain teachers while jettisoning others.

Proponents of the bill said it is currently too difficult for districts to fire underperforming teachers. 

DOE Commissioner Steve Bowen lauded the committee endorsement of the amended bill, saying in a prepared statement that of all Gov. Paul LePage’s education bills, LD 1858 had the greatest potential to have a positive impact.

“The bill goes to the very heart of what we know has the greatest impact on learning: the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders,” Bowen said. “The best curriculum and learning materials in the world are of no use to us unless we have effective educators in our schools.”

Chris Galgay, with the MEA, said the amended bill was an improvement over the original. However, Galgay declined to give the bill his blessing because he said he hadn’t had a chance to fully review what he described as last-minute changes.

The original proposal was met with stiff opposition from teachers during last week’s public hearing. 

Democrats originally said the compromise bill struck the right balance between teacher accountability and workplace protections.

Despite the committee vote, the bill may face a significant funding problem. A fiscal note has been developed, however, it contains no specific amount. 

The bill would draw from the Essential Programs and Services fund, the state’s share of public education funding. The administration has indicated that the bulk of the cost could be borne by local districts. 

The state over the past few years has decreased education funding, leading some skeptics to question whether the bill will become a mandate for municipalities.

Legislation with municipal mandates requires two-thirds support of the lawmakers voting. The unanimous committee vote seems to indicate that threshold is attainable. 

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