Oregon teachers walking out to protest school funding

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2019 file photo, Oregon Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr., left, Senate Democratic Leader Ginny Burdick and Senate President Peter Courtney speak to the media at the State Capitol in Salem, Ore. Baertschiger told reporters Monday, May 6, 2019 that Senate Republicans in Oregon have fled Salem to avoid a Tuesday vote on a $1 billion per-year funding package for schools. They oppose the proposed half a percent tax on businesses with sales over $1 million. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)

SALEM, Ore. – Thousands of teachers plan to walk out across Oregon to protest education funding.

Schools around the state will close for at least part of Wednesday as teachers try to put pressure on lawmakers for more money.

Oregon schools have some of the highest class sizes and lowest graduation rates in the United States.

The action follows a wave of teacher activism that began in West Virginia in 2018 and was followed by Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arizona.

Teachers in North Carolina and South Carolina rallied at their respective state capitols last week seeking more money.

The state's school funding problem can be traced to the 1990s, when voters passed two ballot measures to limit property taxes.