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Close to two thousand parents, teachers, and students are hoping their trip to Tallahassee today wasn’t in vain. The PTA group rallied outside the state capitol for more funding, better teacher pay and smaller class sizes, but as Whitney Ray tells us, inside lawmakers were voting against their wishes.

Parents, students and teachers flooded the front steps of the state capitol Thursday calling on lawmakers to boost funding for education.

Tara Roberts has two kids in Florida schools; she says without more funding their education is in jeopardy.

“We want our kids to still have P.E., We want our kids to still have music, and we want our kids to still have art,” said Roberts.

Teacher Amanda Clodfelter came with a message for lawmakers who vote yes to legislation tying teacher pay to student performance, and a bag of letters backing up her threat.

“I have a whole bag of mail here to deliver to all the senator, the House of Reps, to let them know how enraged we were that they passed Senate bill six,” said Clodfelter.

These Miami-Dade students brought 15-thousand letters from their school district to deliver to members of the legislature. As thousands rallied for more funding, better teacher pay, and smaller class sizes, state senators were voting against their wishes.

Legislation asking voters to freeze class sizes at their current rates passed through the Senate.

“It freezes us where we are but provides a safety measure to ensure averages can’t be abused,” said State Senator Don Gaetz, the bill sponsor.

With class size, teacher pay, and tenure legislation sailing through the process, teachers, parents and students last hope may be the governor.