About 1,000 teachers and education staffers from across Texas are rallying at the state Capitol in support of public schools.
As part of Texas American Federation of Teachers lobby day Monday, union leaders urged educators to use their spring break to gather in Austin for the demonstration.
The crowd was then fanning out for meetings with individual lawmakers.
The Legislature voted in 2011 to cut $5.4 billion from public schools and educational grant programs.
Fort Worth Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis told demonstrators they should urge lawmakers to tap the state's cash-flush Rainy Day Fund to restore the cuts.
Referencing proposals to use some of the fund to improve state water and transportation infrastructure, Davis said "you tell them school children are more important than any road" or water project.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.