MADISON, Wis. -- Students, teachers, parents and others marched on the state Capitol in Madison on Tuesday to lobby lawmakers about education issues.

The Walk on the Child's Side has been happening for 10 years.

Participants said they wanted to speak out about problems in the state school funding system.

Tom Beebe, executive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, which formed to advocate for school funding reforms, said the current aid formula underfunds education, resulting in weakened schools.

The state budget proposal that passed the state Assembly on Saturday would cut state aid to education about 3 percent over the next two years. The Senate is expected to debate the budget this week.

"Ten years ago, nobody paid any attention," Beebe said. "They need to pay attention to something this serious."

In the decade that has passed, those marching said nothing has been done.

Those in the education field said they're tired of cuts, of teachers being laid off and courses being eliminated.

"I think what's critical is that our Legislature finally recognizes that this is an enormous problem and gives it more than lip service," said Art Rainwater, retired superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Those marching aren't necessarily asking for funding to increase but rather a change in how schools receive funding.

They want taxes to better benefit students.

"I think all of us recognize the situation our economy's in and that we have to make some sacrifices, but K-12 education has been making sacrifices since 1993. So this piled on top of it really creates an almost untenable situation," said Rainwater.

Students like Kayla LaPlante, a junior at Pulaski High School in Pulaski, said they're the ones who need help.

"Classes are being cut, teachers are being cut, so there are less classes for students to chose, and less teachers, so there's less one-on-one learning," said LaPlante.

An Assembly committee has heard a reform plan from the School Finance Network, an organization comprised of nine education organizations.

Those marching said that's just the start.

"What we're looking for is a system that actually funds that at every school district in the state of Wisconsin and spreads taxes fairly throughout the state," said Beebe.

After making the walk from the Library Mall to the Capitol steps, the group recited several chants calling for state representatives to work with them, before several speeches from students, teachers and Rainwater.