U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and others visit Grand Rapids Community College as part of Back to School Bus Tour

Recently on September 5, the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan as part of his Back to School Bus Tour. Secretary Cardona was joined by the President of the National Education Association Becky Pringle. The road trip took a week and crossed multiple state lines as Pringle and Cardona showcased the many ways that communities, schools, and even families are working hard to accelerate academic achievement for students, as well as raising the bar of what is possible for public education thanks to investments and support from organizations such as the Biden-Harris Administration. 

According to an article on Grand Rapids Community College's website, Cardona, Pringle, and Under Secretary James Kvall kicked off their day in Grand Rapids by talking to educators who have been beneficiaries of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (or PSLF). Nearly $70 billion dof forgiveness for almost one million borrowers have benefitted from the PSLF, which was put forth by the Biden-Harris Administration..

From there, Cardona traveled to East Lansing, Michigan, where he visited a school that uses a teacher apprenticeship program to develop and recruit more public school teachers. These programs have been expanded across the country as part of various Biden-Harris Administration initiatives. Prior to Biden taking office, there were no registered apprenticeship programs for teachers, but now there are similar programs in 38 states as well as Puerto Rico and D.C. Cardona finished his day with the U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar in Detroit, where the two participated in a town hall meeting with high school students to talk about ways to combat the mental health crisis among the youth.

The Back to School Bus Tour also stopped in several other states such as Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. During their week on the road, Cardona, Kvaal, and Deputy Secretary Cindy Martin met with local, state, and federal school leaders as well as educators, parents, and students. They also attended events that celebrated the new school year, and worked to underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to student academic success especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The theme of the Bus Tour was Fighting for Public Education, with Cardona and association working to highlight how the tools supplied by the Biden-Harris Administration are being used by communities across the country to make large investments in public education as well as create new strategies based on evidence and innovative and promising strategies that should accelerate student academic success while supporting students regardless of background or grade level.

This year’s bus tour also celebrated the work of public school employees, while highlighting its history as an institution that has been the foundation of so many success stories in America. 

More information about Grand Rapids Community College can be found at the school’s website