A rally held Wednesday at the Friendship Public Charter School in Washington, DC, celebrated the fourth annual School Choice Week.

“School choice is about saying to all of you and your parents, if you don’t fit in the school you have, if that school is not meeting your needs, you and your family should have the right to choose one that does,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) at the rally.

Supporters of school choice agree that allowing families to dictate their child’s education leads to a better academic standing and future. It’s a movement that continues to grow because of parent involvement.

“School choice significantly improves the likelihood that a student will graduate from high school,” said Lindsey Burke, Heritage Foundation’s Will Skillman Fellow in Education. “It empowers parents.”

More than 5,500 events across the nation will champion the importance of school choice this week.