Pink Slips Rain Down on Teachers

The looming state budget crisis is leading to a massive number of pink slips for the state's teachers.

The California Teachers Association said Tuesday that school districts have issued nearly 19,000 layoff notices, and they expect that number to increase.

Tuesday was the deadline for school districts to let employees know they could lose their jobs, but some districts haven't reported how many layoff warnings they have issued as they prepare for worst-case budget scenarios. The union says it expects to have a final count Friday.

Getting a pink slip has become a yearly tradition for teachers because of the union deadline. Getting the notice does not mean the person is out of a job. Schools have until May 15 to issue final layoff notices.

There was movement on the budget front Tuesday. Both the State Assembly and the Senate will convene Wednesday at 1 p.m to vote on Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal. There is no word on whether the lawmakers will give the governor what he wants, but the call for a vote was viewed as progress by political walkers.