Education
As California lawmakers debated budget fixes on the Senate floor, hundreds of students, teachers and parents from California school systems—K-12 through the University of California—gathered on the Capitol’s north steps to protest cuts to public education.
Eight-hundred protesters assembled near Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue in support of the March 4th Day of Action. The march, which commenced at noon, went from Sather Gate in Berkeley to Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland for a rally.
On March 4, protesters gathered at Sather Gate as students pondered whether to join the demonstration or go to class.
On the morning of March 4, protesters gathered at the main entrances to the UC Berkeley campus. This footage was shot from 7-10 am at the campus’ West Gate, Sather Gate and North Gate.
Oakland North reporter Mary Flynn sends video updates from the Oakland Tech Disaster Drill. Students spill out onto the sidewalk in support of the March 4th protests.
Throughout the Oakland Unified School district, students and teachers turned out for pickets and a “disaster drill” to support California public education.
A timeline of California public school funding decisions.
In California, a faltering economy, a burst housing bubble and dwindling tax revenues are adding to a growing budget deficit that is projected to reach $18.9 billion in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. To combat the growing deficit, lawmakers have enacted sharp cuts across the state budget, including public education at all levels, from K-12 to the University of California. School systems trying to fill budget gaps have employed stimulus money, furloughed employees, deferred hiring, cut enrollment and increased fees. Over…