Nation IN BRIEF : MICHIGAN : Detroit Teachers Reach Agreement

School and union leaders reached a tentative contract agreement to end a 27-day teachers’ strike that has kept 168,000 students out of class. The agreement was announced after four hours of negotiations between the school board and the Detroit Federation of Teachers, which represents 10,500 teachers. The agreement gives teachers pay increases of up to 7% over two years. But the raises will probably be paid for by laying off up to 250 teachers and an undetermined number of administrators and non-teaching personnel, said district spokesman Steve Wasko. Union President John Elliott said he would recommend approval and he expected students to be back in classes by Tuesday. Teachers are to vote today on whether to return to school Monday. A vote on the proposed contract is scheduled for Tuesday.