California Gov. Jerry Brown has appealed the court ruling that struck down the state鈥檚 teacher-tenure laws, a day .
The state鈥檚 attorney general, Kamala Harris, filed the appeal on Friday on behalf of the Democratic governor and the state.
On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu finalized that struck down state laws on teacher tenure and dismissal. The Vergara v. California decision says that those laws unfairly saddle disadvantaged students with weaker teachers and infringe on those students鈥� right under the state constitution to an equitable education. The ruling is a victory for the plaintiffs, nine California students and their families.
Earlier on Friday, California鈥檚 State Superintendent Tom Torlakson urged the attorney general to appeal, saying the ruling unfairly faults teachers and is too vague, with no guidelines on how the legislature can alter laws to satisfy the court.
Teachers鈥� unions are also appealing the decision, saying that this will make it harder to attract and retain young teachers. Judge Treu had ordered a stay on the ruling until all appeals are finalized.
criticizes the decision for its brevity and lack of detail regarding the factual and legal bases for the ruling.
鈥淐hanges of this magnitude, as a matter of law and policy, require appellate review,鈥� the notice reads.
is a slim 16 pages, and the judge did not elaborate on or add to the tentative decision when finalizing it. William Koski, a Stanford University law professor who studies education issues, said that is surprising for 鈥渁 case of this magnitude.鈥�
In other court cases involving educational constitutional issues, he said, there鈥檚 usually a more lengthy finding of facts in the decision. A recent parallel, he said, is the 400-page opinion a Texas judge issued regarding the state鈥檚 school finance system.
Stephen Sawchuk鈥檚 Education Week article analyzes the debate and questions swirling around the Vegara decision.