Good teachers are being pushed out of the classroom in Philadelphia.

On June 30, budget problems forced the Philadelphia School District to lay off 1,500 teachers.

To make matters worse, rather than protect their best teachers, teacher union leaders forced layoffs based solely on seniority regardless of effectiveness or student needs.

High-performing teachers who happen to be new to the district were among the 1,500 who lost their jobs. The teachers' successes in the classroom didn't even enter the equation.  And disadvantaged schools, which usually have the highest percentage of newer teachers, are hit the hardest.

Take action today. Join Students First's fight to save great teachers by ending seniority-based layoffs, because effective teachers belong in the classroom.