Arlington Group Heading To Austin Public Education Rally

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - All over Texas, parents, students and community members are getting ready to make their voices heard.

On Saturday, tens of thousands are expected to converge in Austin, to march and rally for public education.

A group of Arlington parents will be among those headed to the state capitol. They met Friday morning to make signs, paint cars and finalize plans. "With this march, we're raising awareness with all parents," said David Wilbanks, a parent with two kids in the Arlington Independent School District.

Another parent, Leanne Rand, helped organize transportation to the event. Rand has filled three chartered buses, and dozens of others will drive in a caravan.

"I have two kids in high school and two kids in elementary school and I'd like to think my elementary students will get the same opportunities and education my older kids have received," she said.

Parents told CBS 11 News they want legislators to tap into the 'Rainy Day Fund' to cover budget shortages, but they also want them to come up with a plan for future public education, so this type situation never happens again.

"We need real solutions to this education crisis, not band-aid solutions like we've had in the past," Wilbanks said.

Events in Austin on Saturday begin at 11 a.m. The rally at the State Capitol is at Noon. Click here to get details on the march.

On Monday, a group from the Dallas Independent School District will travel to Austin for their own rally.