As the new school year begins, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is gearing up to launch a „2024 Back to School Bus Tour“ in early September. This tour will not only highlight the Biden administration’s investments in public education but also shed light on their commitment to helping students and communities recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
The tour will take place in several battleground states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Cardona, along with Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten and Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal, will be visiting schools in these states to showcase the administration’s efforts in improving academic achievement and ensuring that students have the support they need to succeed from cradle to college and career.
In a statement, Cardona emphasized the importance of public education as the foundation of opportunity in the country. He expressed his excitement about celebrating the work being done in schools and communities to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunities they need to thrive and contribute to society.
During the tour, Cardona and other officials will discuss some of the Biden administration’s key initiatives in education. These include promoting regular attendance, providing student debt relief, expanding full-service community schools, and increasing access to mental health support in schools. The department has invested over $357 billion under the Biden administration to strengthen education across America.
The theme of this year’s tour is „Fighting for Public Education,“ and it will kick off in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on September 3. The tour will also make stops in Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin, as well as Chicago, Illinois, and La Porte, Indiana. In Michigan, the tour will visit Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Detroit, with Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, joining in Grand Rapids.
The tour will conclude in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, making appearances. Both the NEA and AFT have endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, the vice president.
Overall, the „2024 Back to School Bus Tour“ aims to showcase the Biden administration’s commitment to public education and highlight the work being done to support students and communities as they navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic. It serves as a reminder of the importance of investing in education and ensuring that all students have the resources they need to succeed.