Rhee says 160,000 teachers could be laid off this summer, EducationCrossing finds 35,000 jobs.

February 24, 2011   |    PDF version

Pasadena, CA – Budget crises in several states could result in layoffs of up to 160,000 this summer as states struggle to meet deficits.

Michelle Rhee, the former D.C. schools chancellor, has made this claim on an article she wrote on CNN. Rhee, a campaign of school reform who wants to link teacher pay increases to student performance has said that the biggest losers in this policy will be the teachers in highest-needs schools and their students. Schools across the country follow a policy of ''last hired, first fired''. This means that young teachers and teachers in districts with high turnovers are the first to be let go.

College students majoring in education are preparing for the tough job market they will be facing this summer by taking seminars on how to get jobs in bilingual, special education, math, and science needs. Some students are also planning to go aboard as ESL teachers. Japan, South Korea, and recently China have emerged as favorites for ESL teachers.

Teachers are facing an uncertain future in Wisconsin. Both sides have been unwilling to concede ground in the union-governor standoff still continuing in Madison over collective bargaining rights. In Providence, Rhode Island, the school district has sent layoff notices to the entire 1,926 teachers in a warning that they could see their jobs ended at the end of the current school year.

EducationCrossing CEO A. Harrison Barnes says that cuts in K-12 education are being planned across most states. ''But going the ESL route is not the only option. There are still several private schools as well as public schools hiring. And special education and bilingual teachers are in big demand because of federal mandates.'' EducationCrossing is a job aggregator site and has been able to find 35,000 teaching jobs.

Contact:
Roger Croft
Editorial Coordinator
EducationCrossing
626-243-1814
rogerc@EducationCrossing.com

About EducationCrossing:
EducationCrossing is part of the Employment Research Institute, one of the most powerful and comprehensive job search institutions dedicated to helping professionals find jobs that will enhance their careers. Employment Research Institute consists of 90+ industry-specific job boards which consolidate every job opening it can find in one convenient location. The website also offers a three-day free trial to new members.