BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- On March 4, California Faculty Association members joined with students and education workers from all segments of public education in California to "Mobilize for Education."

Turns out, California will not be marching alone.

Organizations have planned similar actions in 17 other states, including Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Washington (state).

Rallies, demonstrations, sit-ins and marches were planned for March 4 on or near all 23 Cal State University campuses, which have experienced over $1 billion in funding cuts over the last two years.

Major regional events of all California public education segments are shaping up to take place at the State Capitol in Sacramento, the San Francisco Civic Center, Pershing Square in Los Angeles and the CSU Northridge campus.

Last fall, more than 800 students and faculty members from all over the state met at UC Berkeley to plan one, unified day of action on which the education community would band together to advocate for public education at every campus and school.

¨DPublic education is under attack and we¡®ve had enough,¡¬ said California Faculty Association President Lillian Taiz. ¨DThe future of our country and our state are at stake. Our kids need public education from pre-school all the way to Ph.D. The slashing of education funds has to stop, and the only way to change it is for the entire education community to stand together.

From pre-schools to universities, public education in California is being decimated. K-12 spending continues to shrink; California is now 47th in public spending per pupil. And, the state has slashed higher education spending.

The California State University has let go some 2000 Lecturers over the last two years. Student fees tripled since 2002 while thousands of class sections have been eliminated. Tens of thousands of eligible students have been turned away or given up because of rising costs and inability to get necessary classes.

The California Federation of Teachers initiates a six-week march from Bakersfield to the State Capitol in Sacramento to restore the promise of public education in California.

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Information Provided By California Faculty Association