The Washington state Senate has passed a measure giving veto power to principals over teachers assigned to their schools.

Under the bill approved Wednesday, teachers without a school assignment could be deployed as substitutes or used in non-teaching roles and could eventually be fired.

Bill supporters say it gives principals the ability to shape their staffs to the needs of students and to weed out problem teachers.

Opponents say that the state's teacher evaluation process, approved by the Legislature last year, should be allowed to run its course.

The measure passed by a 27-22 vote, with four Democrats joining all 23 Republicans voting in favor.

The bill is among several K-12 education reform measures that the state Senate is considering.