A California court has struck down a series of laws that grant tenure and other protections to public school teachers. In a potentially far-reaching decision, the California Superior Court said state law makes it too easy for low-performing teachers to keep their jobs. The education reform group Students Matter had sued on behalf of nine students, arguing protections for subpar teachers disproportionately impact children of color and from low-income families. Outside the courthouse, teacher union officials said they’re being unfairly targeted for the consequences of underfunded public education.

Alex Caputo-Pearl, United Teachers Los Angeles: “All of my 22 years of teaching in South Los Angeles, never was there a student who had a barrier thrown up in front of them because teachers had a right to a hearing or teachers had due process or teachers had seniority.”

Nikki Cichocki, California Teachers Association: “We’re deeply disappointed with the decision that had happened today. You see they highlighted all the wrong problems, they looked to the wrong processes, and they looked for the wrong solutions.”

The ruling has been stayed pending a union appeal.