A federal judge sided with the Chicago Teachers Union last week in ruling that the Chicago public school system mishandled the layoffs of more than 700 tenured teachers.
Nearly 1,300 teachers—more than 60 percent of them tenured—were laid off in light of what the district said was a gaping budget hole. Union lawyers argued that the teachers were fired without hearings, violating their right to due process.
U.S. District Judge David Coar’s order gave the district 30 days to work with the union on a process that would give tenured teachers “a foot in the door” in pursuing current job openings. The order also barred future layoffs from taking place “in a similarly unlawful manner.”
The district said in a statement that it was considering an appeal. Of about 749 tenured teachers who were let go, 417 were rehired, officials said.
