Parents and other supporters of public schools gathered around the Bay Area this morning as part of a statewide campaign against budget cuts to education.

The rallies, titled "Wake Up California!" were held in at least 20 places around the state today, including several in the Bay Area.

The protests were organized by Educate Our State, a grassroots campaign that has developed as state legislators have proposed further cuts to public schools, which already faced deep cuts in recent years.

California ranks in the bottom-fifth of states when it comes to funding public schools and ranks last in staff-to-student ratios, according to rally organizers.

The rallies "are all to encourage legislators to balance the budget, but not on the backs of our kids," said Crystal Brown, a spokeswoman for Educate Our State.

Three different rallies were planned in San Francisco as early as 7 a.m., while large rallies also were planned in Redwood City, Burlingame and San Carlos.

For a full list of the rallies, visit the campaign's website at www.educateourstate.org.

Want to read more? See John B Varghese's blog post, "State of Emergency Declared by Teachers."