The UFT joined public school parents, advocates and elected officials on the steps of City Hall on Sept. 18 to put the state on notice: The $2.5 billion that it owes the city’s public schools from the 2007 settlement of a landmark school-funding lawsuit is past due.

“We can’t wait” is the rallying cry and the hashtag for a social media campaign spearheaded by the Alliance for Quality Education to remind state officials of what the billions of dollars could provide for public students across the state: everything from smaller class sizes and science labs to after-school programs and AP courses.

“As a parent and an educator, I’m here to tell you we have waited too long,” said Karen Alford, the UFT vice president for elementary schools, at the rally. “Our students deserve smaller classes, after-school programs, arts and music programs, and Community Learning Schools.”

The Alliance for Quality Education is asking people to make a #WeCantWait sign and write why they can’t wait for New York State to fully fund public schools and then share that picture across social media with #WeCantWait and at @AQE_NY on Twitter.

The Campaign for Fiscal Equity’s lawsuit, filed in 1993, charged that the state was not adequately funding its schools, thus denying students their constitutional right to a sound, basic education. The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the schools in 2001, and the Court of Appeals upheld the decision in 2003 and 2006.

The Alliance for Quality Education contends that the state continues to underfund its schools despite the court ruling. The state provided additional funding for city schools at first, but then cut it after the 2008 recession. Even though the economy has stabilized in recent years, the state has made no plans to restore the extra funding called for in the court settlement.

“It’s very important to be here today to remind the state of its obligation,” said City Councilman Daniel Dromm, who chairs the education committee. “Imagine what we could do with $2.5 billion.”

Patricia Padilla, a parent with a 3rd-grader at PS 153 in Harlem, said she attended the rally because of what she has observed in her own child’s school. PS 153 has a dual language program and many English language learners — but not the appropriate materials, she said.

“The teachers don’t have the Spanish-language texts they need,” Padilla said. “I feel bad for the teachers because they have to do extra work, translating materials and giving English language learners extra time while the other kids have to work on their own. Then, they’re being observed and being held accountable for what the kids are learning.”