MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- An Alabama House panel has approved a version of the state's education budget that would save teacher jobs.

The House Ways and Means Education Committee tweaked the Senate's budget, which would have cut more than 600 teacher jobs. The House version reduces that to about 350.

The change was accomplished partly by removing $20 million that was in the Senate's budget for bus purchases. The House version would sell bonds to buy buses.

Committee chairman Rep. Jay Love says he thinks it's a good budget because it reduces cuts to higher education and maintains funding levels for pre-kindergarten education.

The bill also would give $1 million from a gubernatorial discretionary fund for a nursing center at the University of Alabama Huntsville.

It could come up for a vote Thursday.