Union Says Fewer Teachers Facing Layoffs

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Fewer teachers are expected to be laid off this year than the previous four school terms according to the state's largest teachers union.

The San Jose Mercury News reported Saturday that the California Teachers Association expects about 1,000 school teachers statewide to receive layoff notices. The Los Angeles County Office of Education sent about 200 of those notices.

Some 3,000 teachers received layoff notices last year and about 20,000 teachers were told they faced losing their jobs in each of 2012 and 2011.

School districts typically rescind most of the notices later in the year, but agencies are required to issue them by March 15 if there's a chance employees could be laid off.

A union spokesman cites the state's strengthening economy for the dwindling number of notices.