The suspension of Pennsylvania's educational employees due to declining enrollment is examined in this paper. The controversy over whether teacher suspension should be based on seniority or on evaluation criteria has resulted in intervention by the judicial system to establish legal precedents for reduction-in-force policy. Methodology is based on analysis and synthesis of 20 Pennsylvania court cases in the following areas: definition of declining enrollment; procedures for realignment; methods of determining seniority; litigation resulting from the Pennsylvania Teacher Efficiency Rating System; legal procedures regarding teacher reduction-in-force; collective bargaining agreements as related to teacher suspension; and the limited role of the judicial system in teacher reduction-in-force policy. Findings emphasize the necessity of establishing a proactive, concise reduction-in-force policy based on sound legal precedents at the school district level. A table of cited cases is included. (LMI)