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Pa. Senate Approves Changing Seniority-Based Layoff System For Public Schools

HARRISBURG (KDKA/AP) -- The Pennsylvania State Senate approved a bill that would change the current seniority-based layoff system used by public school districts.

On Monday, the Senate voted 28 to 22 in favor of the bill that was approved by the House last June.

It would require school districts making layoffs to first eliminate the jobs of educators deemed to be failing or in need of improvement instead of cutting those who were most recently hired.

Districts would use the state's 4-year-old teacher performance rating system to make decisions on cuts and reinstatements.

Supporters of the bill say Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that uses seniority as the sole factor for determining which teachers should lose their jobs during budget cuts and balancing.

The bill is now headed to Gov. Tom Wolf's desk, and he has said he plans to veto it.

A Wolf spokesperson says the issue should be settled by districts during negotiations with labor unions.

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