California Schools Chief To Appeal Tenure Ruling

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California's schools chief will seek an appeal of a court ruling that struck down tenure and other job protections for teachers.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson says the ruling by a Los Angeles judge isn't supported by facts or the law and says it unfairly blames teachers for flaws in the education system.

The judge on Thursday affirmed his June ruling that found the state's teacher hiring-and-firing rules violated the state Constitution. A lawsuit brought by students argued that they saddled schools, especially in poor neighborhoods, with bad teachers who couldn't be fired.

Torlakson, who's backed by powerful teacher unions in his bid for reelection, announced Friday he'll ask the attorney general to appeal.

His opponent in the November race, Marshall Tuck, says Torlakson isn't sticking up for students.