Unintended Consequences: The Case for Reforming the Staffing Rules of Urban Teachers Union Contracts focuses on the impact of "voluntary transfer" and "excessed teacher" staffing rules found in the collective bargaining agreements of urban school districts.

Report Summary

"Voluntary transfers" are incumbent teachers with seniority rights who want to move between schools, while "excessed teachers" are those whose positions are cut from their school, often due to enrollment or budget changes.

Through a study of five major urban districts, the report demonstrates how "voluntary transfer" and "excessed" teacher rules result in systems that hire too late to secure the most talented teacher applicants, bump valuable teachers, and require schools to hire poorly matched or-worse-poorly performing teachers.

Read statements of support from education leaders