BELLEFONTE — Opponents of education cuts proposed to help balance the state budget focused Tuesday on central Pennsylvania in trying to persuade lawmakers to restore funding for K-12 schools and universities.

At a rally Tuesday in Harrisburg, hundreds of students met legislators returning from Easter recess at the steps of the state Capitol. The students and their supporters want the state to spend more on education and less on prisons. Some at the protest backed by the NAACP also opposed a school voucher plan moving through the state Senate.

Speakers rallying a crowd of about 250 people echoed similar themes later Tuesday at a park about 90 miles northwest in Bellefonte, Centre County. Drawing attendees from neighboring Clinton and Clearfield counties as well, organizers unveiled what they said was a unique new advocacy group called the Central Pennsylvania Public School Coalition formed in response to potential cuts.

“It is time we tell the truth about public education and begin to challenge the claims that our schools are failures,” Brian Griffith, superintendent of the rural Penns Valley School District in Centre County, told the crowd. “We are here to tell the governor, and our legislature, that students in public schools matter.”

Seeking to reduce an estimated $4 billion recession-driven deficit, Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed slashing more than $1.6 billion from schools and universities

That includes more than $1 billion going to public schools, and about $625 million of state aid to 18 universities, including Penn State. The university’s loss amounts to half of its current state revenue, or about $182 million.

President Graham Spanier has said the school is considering all contingencies to close the gap, including layoffs and tuition increases.

The $182 million represents about 4 percent of Penn State’s $4 billion budget, though the university has said that does not present a true picture of the impact on its educational mission because much of the income is earmarked toward other areas.