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SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today held news conferences in Sacramento and Alameda to urge students who are considering walking out of class in protest of the Governor's proposal to cut $4.8 billion from education to stay in school. O'Connell also met with student leaders and educators from Alameda County to encourage students to find ways to express their concern about the proposed cuts without missing class.

"This budget puts districts and schools in a terrible bind and threatens to undermine the highest-quality education California's 6.3 million students deserve," O'Connell said. "I understand and agree with our students that these cuts are wrong and I admire them for their passionate desire to be engaged in the budget process, but they can't afford to miss out on even a single day of their education."

Earlier this week, hundreds of Alameda County students walked out of class in protest over a decision by the Alameda Board of Education to approve $2.56 million in budget cuts. The cuts stand to impact sports, music programs, counseling services, and class-size reduction plans for high school freshmen. O'Connell and Alameda Unified School District Superintendent Ardella Dailey met with these students to listen to their concerns and encourage them to refrain from protesting the budget cuts by walking out of class.

"I will continue to fight to protect education funding, but, again, I'm urging students to stay in school," O'Connell said. "We all have a stake in education and I assure you that our collective voice – the voice of students and educators — will be heard."