On March 16th, 2009, students made history by planning and executing the first student-run, student-organized march and rally in support of the California Community Colleges. Sponsored by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, and co-sponsored by twelve of its organizational partners, the March in March: Rescue Education is recognized among legislators and their staff as the largest Capitol rally of the year.

More than 5,000 students, faculty, and staff marched from Raley Field to the Capitol in Sacramento, California. In solidarity, those thousands voiced their support for the state to reject any increase in fees and to protect and augment the budgets of California’s public education institutions, particularly of the California Community Colleges.

But in July, the Legislature voted to increase fees by 30%, to $26 per unit, the highest level that California Community College fees have ever been set. Additionally, millions of dollars were cut from the budgets of the 110 colleges in the system.

Those decisions have translated to an increased financial burden on students, even in this difficult economic time, to deep cuts to student services and support programs, and to thousands of cancelled courses. Clearly, the issues students were confronted with in March 2009 are still very much issues they face today.

I Will March will continue to provide opportunities for students to participate in advocacy. Please join our mailing list to receive updates, under “Contact.”