Education advocates push for more funding for schools in state budget

North Carolina Association of Educators held an event calling on lawmakers to do more.

Advocates said they want students prioritized, instead of a focus on eliminating corporate taxes by state lawmakers.

"Our lawmakers need to prioritize our students in the budget process - they have not put out a budget plan," said Kristen Beller, president of the Wake County chapter of NCAE.

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"It is up to North Carolinians to enforce and prioritize public school, and prioritize our students and hold lawmakers accountable for funding our schools," said Beller.

Franklin County kindergarten teacher Allison Griffin knows what she needs for her classroom right now.

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"We haven't had teacher assistants in the last 10 years," said Griffin, "there have been 7,700 fewer teacher assistants in the classrooms. The classes feel different and they are not getting the one-on-one that they are used to."

During Saturday's press conference, NCAE leaders pointed out that as state legislature contemplate eliminating income taxes for all corporations, teachers are taking second jobs during the school year and some teaching assistants are qualifying for food stamps.

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"We need our lawmakers to step up and prioritize our students and stop digging holes," said Beller.

State leaders said in a statement this week that, while they don't have a state budget deal yet, they plan to pass a budget that includes tax cuts later this summer.