Nine California students have launched a lawsuit against the state, arguing that current law and entrenched practices they see as pro-union actually short-change the poor and the minority communities on their education.
Students Matter, the group driving the suit, said in a press release, “Ineffective teachers are entrenched in California’s public school system. The superintendents of many school districts affirm that their districts are beleaguered by grossly ineffective teachers and attribute the continued employment of these teachers to the challenged statutes.”
The trial is set for Jan. 27, Watchdog.org reported. Legal minds think the results could reverberate around the nation — especially in states with union strongholds.
“I think any time that you see a genuine reform in California, you empower reformers everywhere in the country who realize if you can actually fix something like that in California, you can fix it anywhere,” said Ed Ring, the executive director of the California Public Policy Center.
The plaintiffs argue that too many communities in the state aren’t living up to basic education standards, which they say is partly the fault of state laws that protect teachers and are driven by the unions.
The California Teachers Association is opposing the suit, Watchdog reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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