Thirty high school students from Bridgeport are heading to Hartford today to lobby state lawmakers for urgently needed school funding.

City officials say the students are the best voices to make the case, as the district faces layoffs, program cuts, and a $30 million budget deficit.

Mayor Joe Ganim said, “To have the students make the case themselves, to be the faces of what may impact — and be able to be the voices of the effect of that impact — is very powerful.”

Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery added, “I think the community is going to be very, very proud of them.”

The student-led effort is part of “Student Advocacy Day,” with participation from Connecticut’s five largest school districts.