The district where I teach is probably the best public school district in southern California, if not in the state. Its a small district (I think we have a little over 5000 kids) with 4 K-8 schools and one high school. Many students outside of our city, which is super expensive to live in, apply to be on opportunity permits so that they can come to our district - and tons of my favorite students live outside of the city limits. Traditionally our district has done this so that we can make up for low resident enrollment (since everyone that can buy a home there is oldish and most don't have young kids) and we have gotten per pupil funding from the state for each of the permit kids.

Well our district just moved to basic aid, which means that we will no longer be receiving any money from the state and all of our funding will come directly from local property taxes. Its great since our state is insane and they never have their budget figured out, and we will actually have a larger budget this way. However, our school board has voted to eliminate all opportunity permits since those kids won't be bringing in any additional revenue to the district. They are letting 7th, 10th and 11th graders finish either middle or high school, but everyone else is being kicked out. I feel so horrible for these kids, some who have been going to these schools since kindergarten and have all of their friends at this school and now have to leave after the 8th grade, or after finishing 6th or whatever. Its so sad :(

And because enrollment will be down next year that means layoffs this year. I am high enough on the seniority list that I don't have to worry about losing my job, but I was already involuntarily transferred once, and I have a feeling I might be transferred to another school again. And there are so many great teachers, some of whom have been working in this district for three years that will probably be let go - so ridiculous.

I really hate this time of year - pre-pink slip season. Its such a distraction from teaching and just enjoying being part of your school community. 

I hear you.  We're going into a hiring freeze here due to the state budget.  It's not the clusterf*#$ that California's is, but it's not a rosy picture either.  We're losing $300m from education.  

I'm kind of worried.  I'm a first-year teacher so I have no seniority, and I'm still in the "fire at will" stage in my district.  I got myself into a bit of trouble by being stupid and trying to do a better job last semester (long story...I was having some classroom management issues, I naively believed the spiel they sold us about asking for help, and now my rehiring is in doubt) so my school isn't overly fond of me right now.  I'm a high school math teacher (who could get an additional science cert pretty easily) so even if I was let go this year, I would eventually find another job as that subject is sort of in-demand, but I don't exactly relish the prospect.

Even if they do ask me back, my fiance is likely (hopefully) going to be offered a job in another city, so long-term I will have to look again anyway. :(

That's terrible and I feel so sorry for the kids who have to leave and the teachers who will be let go. It's not right when talented teachers have to move to a school they don't want to be at or they lose their job.

I feel bad for those kids that won't be allowed back. It's hard for teachers because you grow attached to them and want the best for them. Circumstances like these doesn't make things easier.  I was a first year teacher that was laid off last June. It was so hard, because I loved my job and the community that I worked for. With more teachers being laid off at the end of this school year, finding a teaching job will become more difficult. This situation is difficult for everyone. I totally understand how you are feeling. So sorry you are going through this.

Hello, I'm from Portland Oregon and new to the group. I'm endorsed in music and teach choir. I've been subbing in portland public the last year and have invested tons of my personal time to chaperoning trips, helping set up for concerts, and teaching voice lessons after school as well as giving pro-bono lessons and tutoring kids when they want help. My cooperating teacher from when I student taught retired this year leaving his job wide open for me to just jump in where I left off. 

Well, after a 4 month hiring freeze, they decided to lay off half the music teachers in the district - hush hush mind you. I have friends from college and teachers I've subbed for losing their jobs. One teacher has been teaching at one of the high schools the last two years and has really done well there. They are laying her off to give her job to a more experienced teacher! Not only that, she's 7 months pregnant and they told her 2 weeks before school starts. That story has been all over the media here. 

As far as I'm concerned my job will probably be assigned to an elementary school teacher that doesn't know what to do with a high school choir. My students are miserable. They keep sending me messages on facebook asking if there's anything I can do. I hate that my hands are tied and that I practically am being forced to abandon them. It's heartbreaking really both for the students and for all of the teachers that have lost their jobs. 

I hate how the seniority thing works. And I hate the stipulation that experience yields better teaching! I've subbed for some very "experienced" teachers whose kids were shocked when I came into choir and was able to play the piano and expected them to actually sing! What kind of teacher teaches choir and doesn't make her kids sing?! We really need to reevaluate the education system in this country.