Parents, teachers and community members gathered for a massive rally and walk that ended at the Philadelphia School District headquarters before the start of tonight's School Reform Commission meeting.
The hundreds of people that gathered are calling for more funding for schools, with only 18 days until kids are expected to begin the school year.
Last week, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced the city will borrow $50 million to ensure schools can open on time. This money will allow nearly 1,000 employees to be re-hired before the school year begins on Sept. 9.
But protesters are calling for the full $180 million dollars that the school district requested from the city and state.
The struggling district laid off about 20 percent of its staff to close a $304 million deficit.
The rally began at the Comcast Building at 17th and JFK Blvd. and continued to City Hall before ending at the district headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street.
