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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Suit seeks to overturn 'outdated' teacher job protections - latimes.com

Suit seeks to overturn 'outdated' teacher job protections - latimes.com:


Suit seeks to overturn 'outdated' teacher job protections

A nonprofit backed partly by organizations known for battling teachers unions has filed litigation challenging the constitutionality of California laws that make it more difficult to fire or lay off ineffective teachers.
The suit, filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and announced Tuesday, takes aim at five California statutes that govern teacher tenure rules, seniority protections and the teacher dismissal process.
“A handful of outdated laws passed by the California Legislature are preventing school administrators from maintaining or improving the quality of our public educational system,” the lawsuit says.
The group behind the legal action is called Students Matter, a newly formed nonprofit that defines its mission as changing “outdated and harmful state laws that prevent the recruitment, support and retention of effective teachers.”
In its complaint, the suit contends that teachers can earn tenure protections too quickly -- in 18 months  -- well