On Tuesday, Sept. 5, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will launch the "Back to School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar" alongside Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, and Federal Communications Chairwoman (FCC) Jessica Rosenworcel. The week-long, multi-state road trip will showcase the many ways schools, families, and communities are doubling down on accelerating student learning and raising the bar in education.

First, Secretary Cardona and Gov. Kelly will visit students at Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Career (TCALC) to welcome them for the start of the school year and learn about their learning recovery efforts. Then, a group of Teaching as a Profession high school students, Dr. Anderson, and Topeka Public School teachers will join Secretary Cardona on the bus where they will visit the Brown v. Board of Education historic site to talk about the importance of teacher recruitment and teacher diversity in the workforce.

Afterwards, Secretary Cardona will head to the University of Kansas (KU) to officially kick off the Back-to-School Bus Tour 2023 and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TRIO program. TRIO refers to a range of federal programs that help identify students who might face some disadvantages – and help put them on a trajectory to make the most of their incredible potential. KU is home to several TRIO programs including Upward Bound, SES & STEM, Talent Search, and McNair Scholars.

Secretary Cardona will then head to Kansas City, Kansas, where he will be joined by Chairwoman Rosenworcel to share the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts around Online for All and learn how community programs are promoting the Affordable Connectivity Program to families in need.

The day will end with Secretary Cardona and Rep. Cleaver in Kansas City, Missouri, where they will speak to parents about the importance of parent engagement and bringing their voices to the table in schools.

The "Back to School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar" features stops in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Throughout the week, Secretary Cardona, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, and Under Secretary James Kvaal will join national, state, and local school leaders to speak with students, parents, and educators for events that celebrate the back-to-school season and underscore the Administration's commitment to helping students recover from the impacts of the pandemic and continue on the road to success. As part of the "Back to School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar," Administration officials will highlight academic and mental health programs and efforts to recruit and support educators funded by President Biden's American Rescue Plan, which provided historic resources to K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to reopen schools and help students of all ages recover.

Many of the events will include a press availability with Secretary Cardona and local leaders. To RSVP for specific stops on the tour, please email pressRSVP@ed.gov. Follow the bus tour on social media at #EdBusTour23.