Rick Karlin is reporting for the Times Union the New York State United Teachers, the state's major teachers union, has take legal action in opposition to a new state regulation that governs which teachers are assigned to the poorest performing schools. The new rule, approved earlier this year by the Board of Regents, mandates that only teachers rated "effective," or "highly effective" can be transferred to the schools needing comprehensive support and improvement. Supporters of the new regulation say it would help struggling schools and is in keeping with efforts to provide equity to students in wealthy and poor neighborhoods. “It’s basic common sense,” said Ian Rosenblum, executive director of the Education Trust-NY, which works on raising standards for disadvantaged schools. “The strongest educators should be serving the students with the greatest needs,” he said. Local teacher contracts often include language about transfers from one school to another. Some give preference to more senior teachers. The NYSUT case was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany. The Rochester and Syracuse teachers union locals are also a party to the suit. Read the full story in the Times Union.