L.A. school district sued over teacher layoffs

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A civil rights group has sued the Los Angeles Unified School District and the state, claiming thousands of teacher layoffs deprive poor inner-city children of their right to an education.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday contends the budget-cutting measures disproportionately affect schools in low-income and minority areas. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California claims that violates the state constitution.

The nation's second-largest school district last year laid off more than 2,000 instructors to help close a huge budget gap. Because of seniority rules, newer teachers went first and most of them were in poorer neighborhoods.

The lawsuit seeks to block all future budget-related layoffs and seeks class-action status.