Judge OKs Deal To Limit Teacher Layoffs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles judge has approved a settlement that shields 40 local schools from the long-standing policy of laying off teachers by a last-hired-first-fired seniority policy.

Superior Court Judge William Highberger ruled Friday that the settlement of a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California against the state in February is valid. The teachers union United Teachers Los Angeles opposed the settlement.

The ACLU sued on grounds that students' constitutional right to a quality education was being violated by policies that dictate teacher layoffs by seniority.

The lawsuit cited recent layoffs in the Los Angeles Unified School District that decimated young teaching staffs at three inner-city schools, leaving classes to substitutes and creating an environment where students could not learn.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)