Teacher seniority tossed out

In a landmark decision that could lead to scrapping seniority-based layoff policies at schools statewide, a judge ruled Friday that L.A. Unified could not fire new teachers at 45 campuses because the high turnover unfairly disadvantages students. C.J. Lin in the Daily News.

Applauded by education reformers but blasted by teachers union leaders who plan to appeal it, the ruling is aimed at protecting students at hard-to-staff schools in the current climate of mass layoffs.

In recent years, some troubled schools at LAUSD have lost more than half their teachers because only recent graduates new to teaching are willing to work there.