RICHMOND – A bill to revamp teacher evaluation and grievance procedures has won final passage after an unsuccessful last-ditch attempt to amend it.

The measure is part of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s education reform package. The House voted 75-25 today  to pass the bill and send it to McDonnell for his signature.

The bill allows school boards to extend teacher probationary periods from three years to five. It also requires annual evaluations and says teachers can be fired after one bad appraisal.

Democratic Del. Jeion Ward is a middle school teacher and president of the Hampton Federation of Teachers. She said one negative evaluation should not result in a teacher’s firing. But on a voice vote, the House rejected her amendment to allow a firing only after a second bad evaluation.

-The Associated Press