WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas teachers who quit because they don't feel safe returning to teaching in-person classes during the coronavirus pandemic might have to pay their school districts up to $10,000 for backing out of their contracts.

Penalties for quitting or resigning are meant to help districts find replacement teachers, but schools must prove that their penalty fee is actually based on the cost of replacing that teacher and not just an arbitrary amount designed to punish teachers.

Educators say heading back to school seemed a lot safer before the resignation deadlines a few months ago w...