The Milk Party rallied at the Bay District Schools Administration Building Tuesday to call for improved health care and education in Florida. The group hopes to take advantage of the statewide political campaigns to advance its cause.

Florida ranks in the bottom half of states in child health, and The Children's Movement of Florida is looking for ways to turn these numbers around. Group members urge gubernatorial candidates to debate children's issues next month.

"We know how to build trains. We know how to build roads. We know how to build prisons. But somehow children have gotten left behind. This isn't about raising taxes. This is simply about making children the number one priority in the state of Florida," movement president David Lawrence said.

With more than half of Bay County's 10th graders unable to read at grade level, education amongst other issues imporant.

"Not only the health care and other initiatives of the movement, but it's about parent involvement and our mentoring programs that are important to me," Margaret Tidmore, the Alternative school mentor program coordinator, said.

The Children's Movement of Florida rolled out after the rally and headed for the next stop on their statewide tour. The tour started Monday in Pensacola and will be in Tallahasee tonight. With 17 total stops, it will come to an end in Key West September 30.