More than half a million Queensland students face massive classroom disruption as 38,000 public school teachers prepare to strike in a dramatic escalation of an ongoing pay and workload dispute.

The Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) announced its members will go on a 24-hour strike on August 6, calling it “a historic step.”

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“After years of calling out increased workloads, violence, creeping admin and woeful salaries, teachers and leaders are fed up, exhausted, and underwhelmed by what the government has presented,” the union said.

At least 1266 state schools across Queensland will be affected, operating with only skeleton staff for about 560,000 students.

By law, schools must stay open, with enough staff to supervise children.

The Department of Education confirmed all schools will remain open.

Still, the scale of the disruption remains unclear as the department doesn’t know how many teachers will walk off the job.

QTU is calling on parents and the community to support their action.

“If possible, keep your children home from school on Wednesday,” the union said in a statement.

Parents are now weighing up whether to send their children to school.

“They do the absolute most that they can, they deserve it,” one parent told 7NEWS during drop-off at Richlands East State School, Brisbane.

Others are more cautious.

“At the end of the day, the kids need to learn still. It’s not something I’m happy with,” said local parent Emma Corbett.

Disability carer Saidu Timbo said keeping kids home carries a financial cost.

“If you’re not going to work, of course, you lose wages,” he said.

In Brisbane, striking teachers will rally at the Great Hall inside the Convention and Exhibition Centre, before marching to Parliament House from 11.30am.

Similar state-wide rallies and actions are planned, with events across rural and remote towns for regional teachers.

It is the biggest strike of its kind since 2009, when just 3 per cent of students attended class.

But school leaders expect a higher turnout this time.

“Probably more students will be at school tomorrow than in 2009,” said Pat Murphy from the Queensland Association of State School Principals.

“We’re going to be able to deal with this situation.”

The union is demanding “nation-leading” pay, less paperwork, safer workplaces, and stronger recruitment and retention strategies.

They have support from their private school counterparts.

“This government promised the priority of education. I think there’s an obvious onus on the government to respond,” said Terry Burke from the Independent Education Union.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said negotiations are continuing in good faith.