Students, parents, teachers and leaders from school districts around Texas are rallying at the state Capitol, demanding the restoration of $5.4 billion in public education cuts the Legislature approved in 2011.
Former Education Commissioner Robert Scott is among those addressing Saturday's annual rally organized by the advocacy group Save Texas Schools.
With the biannual Legislature now in session, thousands are expected to attend. Turnout was relatively light last year when lawmakers weren't around.
The cuts prompted more than 600 school districts to sue, and a judge ruled recently that funding was inadequate and unfairly distributed. But the state is appealing.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan Texas House group is discussing the possibility of restoring as much as nearly $1 billion to schools without exceeding current state budget spending limits.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.