Recession, End Of Stimulus Bring Massive Teacher Layoffs

The CBS Evening News (9/6, story 6, 2:30, Pelley, 6.1M) ran a segment on the roughly 200,000 teachers and other education professionals who have been laid off due to state and local budget cuts resulting from the recession and the drop-off in Federal stimulus funding intended to preserve those jobs. "Back in 2009," CBS notes, "$97 billion in federal stimulus to states saved an estimated 325,000 school jobs. But that money is now gone. ... Gym, music, and art teachers are often the first to go." The piece focuses on the impact on teachers and their families, adding that some districts are now facing critical teacher shortages and are recalling limited numbers of teachers.