school's out
More than 50,000 teachers have marched on the Arizona capitol as walkouts reach fourth day
Close to 1 million students in Arizona are in their fourth day of an unplanned spring break.
Educators and advocates are headed to the Arizona state capitol Tuesday to call for salary increases and new public school funding in the fourth day of teacher walkouts, reports Reuters.
Around 50,000 educators rallied in Phoenix on Monday, the Arizona Education Association tweeted, in support of a 20 percent raise for teachers and additional $1 billion in school funding.
The demonstration, which began last Thursday, is the first teacher walkout in Arizona's history, reports CNN, and teachers have vowed to continue the protest until their demands are met. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) has offered up a 20 percent raise, but proposes that it be dispersed over the next two years. Reuters reports that lawmakers also offered to restore $371 million in previously cut funding over the next five years for new school buses and upgraded infrastructure and technology. Union leaders and teachers say that the offer falls short and fails to provide specifics on spending plans, reports CNN.
Teachers in Colorado are also currently striking, just weeks after walkouts in Kentucky, Oklahoma, and West Virginia helped lead to pay raises for teachers and increased funding in public schools. Read more at Reuters.