And so begins the battle of the expert titans. In the landmark lawsuit, Vergara vs. California, the winner may ultimately be the side that had the more persuasive expert witnesses. The first came to the stand today as lawyers for the nine students bringing the suit called Harvard professor Raj Chetty, a renowned expert in public...

Under cross-examination today, LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy faced pointed questions from attorneys representing California’s biggest teacher unions and the state in a controversial lawsuit that could turn the practice of teacher tenure on its head. At issue in the landmark case,  Vergara vs. California, are five statutes that the nine students bringing the case...

Trial over California teacher protection laws opens Attorneys seeking to overturn several of California’s controversial teacher protection laws argued in court Monday that these statutes prevent the removal of “grossly ineffective” teachers from schools — contributing to an inadequate education for students assigned to them. LA Times In landmark trial, sides debate whether teacher protection...

LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy told a packed courtroom today that it can cost the district “millions of dollars” and can take “slightly less than 10 years” to get rid of an ineffective teacher. Deasy was the first witness to testify in the long-awaited start of Vergara v California, a battle over state laws that govern...

A lawsuit that could lead to a seismic shift in teacher tenure and dismissal methods is underway today in a packed Los Angeles courtroom. LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy is expected to take the stand. Courtroom seats are being assigned by lottery – with limited press seating available. We will do our best to update...

A lawsuit that could dramatically change how California public schools deal with ineffective teachers gets underway Monday in a California Superior Court for Los Angeles County, where LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy is expected to be the first witness to testify. The suit, Vergara v California, has been brought by students who are challenging state...

A California Superior Court judge today cleared the way leading to a trial in a case that seeks to overhaul state regulations that safeguard quality public education through rules governing teacher dismissals. Judge Rolf Treu finalized his ruling of yesterday, denying a request by defendants in the case, Vergara v. California, including the state and...

LA Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu today denied a request to dismiss a lawsuit from students, seeking to strike down state regulations that they contend make it difficult for school districts to fire ineffective teachers In his ruling, Judge Treu said he found “sufficient evidence” to clear the way for a trial, which is schedule to...

Lawyers in the Vergara v. California case will be back in Los Angeles Superior Court tomorrow for Judge Rolf Treu to hear arguments from the defendants  to dismiss the case without a trial. Again. The lawsuit, known colloquially as the “Bad Teacher” lawsuit, has been brought by Students Matter on behalf of nine California students and...

Theodore B. Olson, the former U.S. Solicitor General, previewed arguments yesterday in Vergara v. California, a lawsuit that strives to protect equal educational opportunity in California by ensuring that all students have access to effective teaching. Speaking at the National Summit on Education Reform in Boston, Olson appeared with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and...