US Education Secretary To Tour Southwest

August 19, 2013

The U.S. Education Secretary will be in Arizona and New Mexico in a few weeks, as part of the department’s annual back-to-school bus tour.

Arne Duncan will start his trip in Santa Fe on Sept. 9, before moving on to Albuquerque, Socorro, N.M., and El Paso, Texas. Later that week, he’ll be in Tucson, Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Yuma, before wrapping up the bus tour outside San Diego.

The Education Department says while on the road, Duncan will meet with students, parents, teachers and education leaders. He’s also expected to discuss the impact comprehensive immigration reform would have on education.  

A release issued by the agency says the tour is meant to “highlight the importance of ensuring that all students benefit from high-quality educational opportunities.” This is the fourth year Duncan has done a back-to-school tour – last year he toured the country, while in previous years he focused on specific parts of the country.