Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was in Washington Wednesday with education reformer Michelle Rhee, his fiancee, for the launch of a national campaign aimed at eliminating "last in, first out" policies that base teacher layoffs on seniority.
The announcement came at a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Johnson is the founding chair of the group's Public School Task Force.
"We have to eliminate old policies that satisfy adult needs, but have absolutely no bearing on student achievement," Johnson said in a press release. "(Last in, first out) policies represent everything that's wrong with our current education system. I urge every mayor and state leader to stand up for children by eliminating policies that deprive them of great teachers."
Rhee was District of Columbia schools chancellor from 2007 until last year.
Follow this story at SacBee.com