On Tuesday, more than a thousand DC parents, students, teachers and leaders joined together to raise their voices in support of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program.

After weeks of editorials and op-eds, The District finally heard from those truly affected by the the loss of these lifesaving (and life-changing) vouchers allowing children to escape underperforming schools.

Holding signs reading “Options = Power”, “Leave no child behind” and “Isn’t DC a part of the land of Opportunity?”, people rallied in celebration of what the program has offered, and what it could mean to so many in the future if only Congress and the DC Council would open their eyes and ears.

As speeches were being made on Freedom Plaza, news leaked that the President has included a proposal in his budget (to be unveiled Thursday afternoon) that would allow current Opportunity Scholars to continue in the program until graduation.

But what of the 200 children who recently had their scholarships granted, only to have them snatched back by the Department of Education via a less than sensitive letter?

What about the thousands more who slog through assigned neighborhood schools not serving their educational needs? Don’t they deserve a chance to achieve? To succeed?

The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program works. The government’s own research proves this year in and year out.

Save opportunity.