LANSING — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a new law making it easier for school districts to get rid of teachers in classrooms where scores are low. 

He has said in the past that the system was outdated in using seniority to determine which teachers should be laid off first or if they should be transferred to other schools. 

Snyder wants the system to be more performance-based and reward those who produce successful students. The new rules will take effect beginning in the fall of 2012 according to reports. 

Discipline and layoff rules as a subject of collective bargaining agreements with unions will also be done away with under the new law. 

Unions have criticized the law, however, saying that it will simply allow districts to cut older teachers for financial reasons and limits their rights to bargain for job protections in light of financial difficulties.