E4E-CT Statement on New State Report Revealing Urgent Need to Modernize Layoff Policies

In light of new data released from the Wheelock Educational Policy Center on layoff policies and Connecticut’s teaching workforce, Daniel Pearson, Executive Director of E4E-Connecticut, issued the following statement calling on Connecticut lawmakers to take immediate action:

“Connecticut’s teachers have been clear: seniority matters, but it is a disservice to students for it to be the only factor driving layoff decisions. Educators want a system that considers the full picture when budget cuts come. New data from the Wheelock Educational Policy Center, released in partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education, clearly demonstrates why lawmakers must heed the advice of educators and modernize layoff policies to ensure continuity and quality instruction for all students: New teachers in CT are more likely to work in higher-needs schools serving marginalized students, and most critically, equally likely to be highly effective as their longer-serving peers. 

‘Last-in, first-out’ policies threaten to remove these newer educators whom students rely on most, including those who work in shortage areas like special education, who bring specialized skills like bilingual instruction, and who provide stability in high-needs schools where continuity matters. 

Connecticut does not have to choose between honoring veteran educators and protecting the teachers students need. Nearly half of all states—and districts like Vernon and Danbury in Connecticut—already weigh multiple criteria alongside seniority, including teacher effectiveness, shortage areas, and school needs. 

Lawmakers must act to ensure Connecticut does not fall behind. When budget cuts are unavoidable, districts must consider multiple factors so that no single measure determines which teachers stay and which go. Teachers know what their students need. Data from Wheelock confirms it. We are calling on lawmakers to modernize layoff policies before Connecticut loses both the educators and the students who depend on them.”

Daniel Pearson is available for comment to discuss this matter further.

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About Educators for Excellence

Founded by public school teachers, Educators for Excellence is a growing movement of more than 38,000 educators nationwide, united around a common set of values and principles for improving student learning and elevating the teaching profession. We work together to identify issues that impact our schools, create solutions to these challenges, and advocate for policies and programs that give all students access to a quality education. For more information, please visit e4e.org.