The budget deficits facing New York City and State will require drastic cuts this year, including billions of dollars in education funding, leading to teacher layoffs. Currently, the law in New York states that any layoffs involving school personnel must be done in order of hiring. In other words, layoffs are based solely on seniority without any consideration for other factors, including a teacher’s effectiveness, quality or attendance record.

This means that regardless of teachers’ accomplishments in the classroom, the longest serving teachers are protected and the newer ones are forced out, no matter what.

Read more about what's at stake if we don't change the "Last in, first out" rule.