— The N.C. Association of Educators estimates more than 10,000 teachers may attend the May 16 teacher march and rally in Raleigh. Six school districts have already announced they are closing for the day, with an optional teacher work day.

The Wake County Public School System was the latest to join that list, making the announcement Monday afternoon.

Monika Johnson-Hostler, chairwoman of the Wake County Board of Education, said the board decided to cancel classes "to support not just our teachers but also our students."

In a letter to parents, Johnson-Hostler said that about 2,500 of Wake County's 10,300 teachers had asked to take time off on May 16, and the board anticipated more requests to come.

School districts closing on May 16 Alamance-Burlington School System

Alexander County Schools

Asheboro City Schools

Asheville City Schools

Brunswick County Schools (except ECHS)

Buncombe County Schools

Cabarrus County Schools

Caldwell County Schools

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Chatham County Schools

Cumberland County Schools

Davie County Schools

Durham Public Schools

Franklin County Schools

Gaston County Schools

Granville County Schools

Guilford County Schools

Hickory Public Schools

Hoke County Schools

Iredell-Statesville Schools

Johnston County Schools

Kannapolis City Schools

Lexington City Schools

Mooresville Graded School District

Nash-Rocky Mount Schools

New Hanover County Schools

Onlsow County Schools

Orange County Schools

Pender County Schools

Pitt County Schools

Robeson County Schools

Rowan-Salisbury Schools

Stanly County Schools

Thomasville City Schools

Union County Schools

Vance County Schools

Wake County Public School System

Warren County Schools

Wayne County Public Schools

Wilson County Schools

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools List updated May 15

"This is what they wanted to do and then we figured out how to ensure we support them. It became clear we would not open school if there were not enough educators to ensure student instruction," she said.

School leaders in Charlotte-Mecklenberg, Durham, Orange, Nash-Rocky Mount and Chapel Hill-Carrboro districts have also said they'd close schools to allow teachers to protest at the Legislative Building.

Teachers plan to meet with House and Senate members to push for better pay, school safety improvements and repairs to crumbling buildings.

North Carolina Association of Educators President Mark Jewell says the rally will also help students.

"People are rising up together to say, 'Fully fund our public schools,'" he said.

Johnson-Hostler called the May 16 rally a teachable moment, even for students not in class.

"I personally believe that what the teachers are doing will absolutely be a physical demonstration to our students for what civic engagement looks like," she said.

Paulette Leaven, president of the Wake County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said she is expecting a big crowd.

The ability of Wake County teachers to join the rally without having to take a personal day and pay $50 for a substitute teacher could see those numbers balloon.

On any given day, Wake County public schools can have as many as 500 teachers out of a total of more than 10,000 miss class. The district has policies and processes to cover those absences.

Jewell said buses are coming to Raleigh from Asheville, Charlotte, Wilmington, the Triad and from across the Triangle. NCAE is sponsoring the rally.

Schools, community organizations plan for child care, lunch needs

In preparation for the teacher workday, the Downtown Durham and Hope Valley Farms YMCAs announced Monday that they will provide care for children who need it. Registration is currently open.

In Wake County, select school buildings will be open, Johnson-Hostler said, although details have yet to be worked out.

She said that parents would be notified through their school about daytime childcare and lunch options for that day, and that some buses would run.