More than 23,000 layoff notices issued to teachers statewide

Last year, more than 16,000 teachers statewide lost their jobs.  

Education budget cuts have prompted school districts across the state to send out more than 23,000 pink slips, notifying teachers and other certificated employees they may not have jobs next year.

In a morning news conference, state Superintendent for Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said 21,905 pink slips had gone out from districts, which had to meet a state-mandated Monday deadline to notify staff they may not have jobs next year.

“While I understand the governor and the Legislature have tough decisions to make, these budget cuts are devastating our schools and impacting our ability to do the most important job in our society, that is, to teach our children,” O’Connell said in a statement.

By Monday afternoon, the number of notices had swelled to 23,225, according to figures from the California Teachers Association, which represents 325,000 teachers. Pink slips were sent by 464 school districts statewide, including more than 4,100 in the greater Bay Area, the union said. These do not include notices given to probationary teachers who will not be permanently hired, said spokesman Mike Myslinski.

Of those who received the notices, however, it’s unknown how many will ultimately lose their jobs. Final layoff notices will be mailed in May, after districts have a better idea about the state budget for the 2010-11 school year.

Last year, more than 16,000 teachers lost their jobs. In the past two years, about 10,000 classified school