Hundreds of students, parents and activists marched at the state capitol demanding no more cuts to education. This is the second protest in two weeks.
The $9.1 billion state budget proposal lawmakers are debating would mean deeper cuts to universities and colleges.
This budget is better for K-12 schools. It gives schools about $90 million more in funding than the governor's original proposal, but that doesn’t take into account growing student enrollment.
Glendale High School sophomore Daniela Rangel said she hopes the protest makes a difference.
“I don’t know if it will, but I hope it does because they’re in there and we are out here," Rangel said. "So the decision that they are making is in there, but in the end the decision that they are making is going to affect the people out here.”
She said the potential cuts would not only affect her high school, but also college tuition.
Democratic state Rep. Andrew Sherwood came out to talk to students.
“I think that it will make a difference because a lot of members are on the fence,” he said. “They don’t have the votes and the reason is because community support like this is what helps empowers them to make tough decisions and this is effective.”
Appropriations committee hearings were underway during the protest. Republican legislative leaders are hoping to vote on the budget Friday, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
