Student Desks Fill LA City Street in Dropout-rate Protest 1 Favorite 

School desks placed by parents, district graduates and activists block a street in front of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in a demonstration against student dropout rates Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in downtown Los Angeles. Protest organizers say the 375 desks are there to represent the 375 students who drop out of the district every week during the school year.

According to the California Department of Education, 8,748 L.A. Unified students dropped out during that school year. It's a number organizers with the Communities for Los Angeles Student Success say they don't want district officials to gloss over.

Drivers stymied by the demonstration were clearly frustrated as traffic officers directed traffic around it. But organizers said the issue of so many students dropping out school was also frustrating."We're glad the drivers are upset, because we're upset about students dropping out," said Elmer Roldan, education program officer with United Way of Greater Los Angeles."The most vulnerable students should benefit from the budget."

Protesters want a student voice on the school board, and more funding for English language learners, foster children and low income students.

District officials declined comment on the protest.