Lawyers for the State of New York, the teachers union and a group of parents were back in court Tuesday for a State Supreme Court case that could abolish teacher tenure. NY1 education reporter Lindsey Christ has more.

It's a court case with a lot at stake: job protections for 250,000 teachers and school administrators across New York State.

A group of parents have sued the state, saying policies like teacher tenure, their discipline process and the rule that layoffs be done in order of seniority all infringe on students' constitutional right to a sound and basic public education.

But outside the State Supreme Court on Staten Island Tuesday, lawyers for the teachers unions accused the parents of teacher bashing.

"I think the real motive in this case is simply to tear down teacher rights," said State Teachers Union lawyer Richard Casagrande.  

"They hate teachers, and what they want to do is attack teachers and destroy a free public education," said City Teachers Union lawyer Charles Moerdler.

The parent plaintiffs immediately shot back, citing how only 30 percent of city students test on grade level in reading and 35 percent in math, but 91 percent of teachers are rated effective.  

"The UFT and NYSUT say that we're on a teacher witch hunt. We're not on a teacher witch hunt. We're on a witch hunt to get rid of the ineffective, abusive, racist, sex molester teachers," said parent plaintiff Mona Davids.

Inside court Tuesday, lawyers for the State of New York and the teachers unions asked the judge to dismiss the case before it even goes to trial. They argued that recent changes to state law have made it harder for teachers to get tenure and easier for them to be dismissed, and as a result, the lawsuit is no longer relevant or necessary.

The parents and their lawyers disagree.

"Those changes are small and we're going to need something a little more than that," said parent plaintiff Keoni Wright.

"It's pretty obvious that these amendments are simply a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound," said Jonathan Tribiano, a lawyer representing the parents.

The judge is expected to decide within the next few months whether the case can move forward. If it does, it will likely be years before a final decision, since both sides have said they will appeal any loss.