This document examines the legal requirements for the reduction in force (RIF) of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction employees, with a focus on certified (instructional) staff. A question-and-answer section discusses areas of concern to administrators about the reduction-in-force process. North Carolina State law relating to the RIF process is highlighted, specifically: the system of employment for public school teachers, grounds for dismissal, the hearing procedure, and the appeals process. Because each situation is unique, there can be no one answer to every system's problems. (LMI)