Arizona teachers returned to their classrooms today after state lawmakers approved a budget that includes pay raises and more education funding. Organizers touted the outcome as achieving “something truly historic.” But they didn’t get everything they wanted. Teacher lobby groups pushed for a $1 billion commitment for additional education funding. Lawmakers agreed to $300 million for the next year. Educators will get a 9 percent raise in the fall, followed by additional 5 percent increases during the next two years. Gov.

Public school classrooms across Arizona remained closed Monday as teachers continued to lobby state lawmakers for more pay and education funding. The walkout began Thursday and shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Organizers planned to meet Monday with state lawmakers who have so far not agreed to Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s proposal to give teachers a 20 percent pay raise. Ducey and leaders of the state House and Senate issued a statement Saturday assuring educators that they’re working on a solution.

Teachers in Arizona and Colorado continued their walkouts Friday, forcing many schools in both states to remain closed for a second day. About 50,000 teachers marched to the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Thursday to demand $1 billion more in classroom funding, on top of the 20 percent pay raise proposed by Gov. Doug Ducey. Lawmakers have so far balked at the spending increases. More than 840,000 students had to stay home Thursday and Friday, forcing parents to scramble for child care. And the strike could extend into next week.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appealed to parents Thursday to help persuade state lawmakers to give public school teachers a raise. The unusual request came just hours before as many as 50,000 educators are expected to march to the state Capitol in Phoenix to demand pay raises and an increase in classroom funding. Ducey, a Republican, has pledged to work toward a 20 percent salary increase by 2020, but teachers voted last week to strike anyway. Lawmakers have so far rejected Ducey’s proposal, saying they don’t know how they can pay for it.

A Florida high school student shot a classmate in the ankle Friday morning, prompting the school to go into a lockdown. After firing a single shot, the gunman dropped his weapon and tried to hide, according to one student who witnessed the incident. Police quickly arrested the shooter. Investigators in Ocala, Fla., have not released any information on the gunman or the victim, other than to confirm they are both enrolled at Forest High School.

A majority of Arizona public school teachers voted to stage a statewide walkout April 26 to call for higher wages. According to the Arizona Education Association, 78 percent of the 57,000 teachers who participated in the vote approved the strike. “This is undeniably, clearly, a mandate for action,” said Joe Thomas, the association’s president. After weeks of protests capped by a “walk-in” last week, during which teachers left the classroom briefly to hold rallies on their school campuses, Gov.

Schools across Kentucky closed Friday as thousands of teachers converged on the state Capitol in Frankfort for what has become an increasingly common lobbying effort. Educators are demanding higher pay or more classroom funding in several Republican-controlled states. In Kentucky, teachers urged legislators to override Gov. Matt Bevin’s veto of a $480 million tax increase that would fund record-high classroom funding. Analysts expect the vote will be close.