Dear John,

55,000 is a lot of kids on a waitlist for opportunity. That’s 55,000 kitchen tables where families are sitting every evening, wondering how they can send their child to the school that works best for them. For many families the biggest barrier is straightforward: affordability. And whether it’s 55,000 students, or one student, we all pay the price when our nation’s children don’t reach their full potential.

Today is an important day in North Carolina where those 55,000 students no longer have to wait for their opportunity. Just minutes ago, the North Carolina legislature, after witnessing unprecedented demand for the program, approved new funding to eliminate the waitlist entirely. Passing on a 67-42 House vote on a conferenced bill already approved by the Senate, the legislation now moves to the Governor's desk.

I want to congratulate Executive Director Marcus Brandon of CarolinaCAN. I remember a phone call with Marcus shortly after last year’s passage of the state’s ESA program where it was clear to me that, despite his long and sustained effort, this was just the beginning. “We’ve got more to do,” he told me.

It’s another example that even after historic victories, the work of advocates can, and must, continue.

In this case, there were 55,000 reasons for CarolinaCAN to keep fighting. We’re glad they did.