RALEIGH – Thousands of teachers from across North Carolina marched on Raleigh Wednesday demanding change in the state’s public education system.

  • As many as 19,000 people took part in Wednesday's rally in Raleigh.
  • NCAE president urges educators to vote in November as next step.
  • GOP leaders say they've already funded an average of a 6.2 percent pay raise for teacher in next year's budget.

Now, as state lawmakers work to hammer out a budget, many wonder what's next for education.

The North Carolina Association of Educators says they will turn their focus to the November election.

“This will be fruitless if we don't march to the polls Nov. 6 and make a change on behalf of North Carolina public school students,” said NCAE President Mark Jewell.

READ MORE: Teachers rally in Raleigh

The question is will the teachers' rally have an effect on the ballot box.

“It will presumably have some kind of impact,” said NC State Political Science professor Andrew Taylor. “It’s somewhat unclear whether all the teachers were on the same page about everything. I think it would be wrong to think of teachers are a monolithic voting bloc.”

While the NCAE listed a set of action items to state lawmakers, Taylor says the specific demands were unclear.

“There wasn't ‘we want x amount in a pay raise’ or ‘we want x amount in school buildings.” It was a general expression of discontent,” said Taylor.

Republican leaders say they've already taken big strides to meet the demands of teacher pay and classroom funding with an average of a 6.2 percent pay raise for teacher in next year's budget.

“There's a lot we need to do,” said Rep. Craig Horn, (R) Union County. “I think we're doing them… we're not doing it all at once. It's a work in progress and will continue to be. I'm committed to it. I think this legislature is committed to it.”

While chants for change filled the air Wednesday, the impact is yet to be seen.

“With its regards to its effects to actual political outcomes and electoral outcomes, I'm not sure,” said Taylor.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance estimates more than 19,000 people filled the streets of downtown Raleigh on Wednesday.