U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. will bring his "Opportunity Across America" back-to-school bus tour to Baton Rouge on Friday where he will visit University Terrace Elementary School to talk with students and educators impacted by the massive flooding in Louisiana. He also will help distribute needed school supplies – donated by Yoobi in collaboration with the Kids in Need Foundation – to both students and faculty.
Afterwards, he will deliver a speech on the importance of college completion at Louisiana State University. There, he will be joined by LSU President F. King Alexander.
Secretary King will arrive in Baton Rouge in his big yellow bus from an appearance on Thursday in Monroe, Louisiana.
King and senior Education Department officials are hosting this seventh and final back-to-school bus tour to celebrate progress in communities and states across the country, which kicked off in the nation's capital and is traveling all the way to Louisiana, from Monday, Sept. 12, to Friday, Sept. 16.
This year's "Opportunity Across America" bus tour includes stops in Washington, D.C; Charlottesville, Virginia; Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee; Harvest, Alabama; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianola, Mississippi; and Monroe, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
King and other senior Department officials will hold events touting the Administration's key initiatives over eight years, highlighting the progress made to expand opportunity across the nation and the groundwork laid for continued momentum.
President Obama entered office in 2009 with a comprehensive vision for improving our education system to advance our children's opportunity and success. That vision included efforts to address the dropout crisis, improve student achievement, and increase graduation rates; expand equity in education through stronger schools; ensure all students achieve to high standards that prepare them for college and career; and grow innovation and investment in what works, while safeguarding the right of all students to a world-class education.
Thanks to the hard work of educators, state and local leaders, communities, parents, families, and students, the nation has made significant educational progress over the last eight years. To build on our prosperity and competitiveness as a nation, the Administration has worked diligently to make a positive difference for students and to continue the work to deliver on the promise of a world-class education to every child.