Video- Occupy LA demands education reform

Occupy Los Angeles protesters and teachers rallied in what they describe as an attempt to reclaim their schools.

Teachers say corporate interests are setting educational policies and causing thousands of lay-offs across the state.

The demonstration comes as a new study shows California’s funding of public education is hitting an all-time low.

The study comes from the California Budget Project.California ranks 46th in the United States in public education funding per student.

Analysts say sharp declines in California’s general fund revenue have left schools strapped for resources. Teachers say this has lead to constant budget cuts and an endless stream of lay-offs.

Teachers say this decade of divestment is concerning because California has more students and greater challenges than any other state.

The state has the most English-language learners in the country and large numbers of low-income families.

The study shows California also ranks last in the nation when it comes to the number of students per teacher. Demonstrators say increasing classroom sizes make it difficult for students to learn.

The report does not offer a possible recovery plan for California’s schools. However, teachers say making the state spend more money on students than it does on prisoners would be a good place to start.

California currently spends an estimated five times more on inmates than on students.