No more coddling of poor teachers

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon Cortines
Los Angeles schools chief Ramon Cortines said Thursday that he's done "coddling" under-performing teachers and plans to streamline district operations to ensure sub-par educators are removed from the classroom. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

Cortines' statements came as the district faces a massive budget deficit that could lead to layoffs of 5,000 employees, including 1,500 teachers, next year.

Under current rules, the pink slips would go first to the newest teachers, even as dozens of chronically poor-performing teachers -- some who have been removed from classrooms for egregious behavior -- continue to stay employed due to their tenured status.