U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona will embark on a bus tour through three key states in September to counter Republican assaults on public education before Election Day.

The three-day tour's theme is “Championing Public Education” and it kicks off after Labor Day in the swing state of Wisconsin.

“The Biden-Harris administration has unapologetically fought for public education, the foundation of opportunity in this country, and the contrast between our efforts and those who wish to destroy public education,” Cardona said in a statement first obtained by
.

The Midwest tour -- which will include stops in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in addition to Wisconsin -- is a direct response to the rhetoric on education from the controversial Project 2025 plan.

The conservative plan proposes expanding school choice, giving parents more control over schools, and dissolving the U.S. Department of Education. Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump’s Agenda 47 platform similarly advocates for school choice policies, eliminating teacher tenure, defunding schools that "promote gender transition," and plans to "promote patriotism" in education.

Democrats have labeled Project 2025 a threat to public education . President Joe Biden and other prominent Democrats like Michelle Obama criticized the plan in their speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

“They want to eliminate the Department of Education” Biden said.

In her speech the following night, Obama said: "Closing the Department of Education, banning our books -- none of that will prepare our kids for the future."

Cardona criticized the conservative agenda in a recent interview, saying he’s trying to protect public education while opponents are trying to defund it.

The tour is also focused on “enhancing student achievement,” according to the department, as students have experienced significant learning setbacks after temporary school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The approximately $190 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic have been beneficial in addressing these challenges over the past three years, experts state. However, the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan funding expires on September 30.

Secretary Cardona told
the recovery dollars were intended to prevent “further exacerbation.”

The tour visits nine cities, ranging from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh, focusing on K-12 and higher education policies promoted during the Biden administration, including Biden’s prominent student loan relief programs for millions of Americans. The comprehensive plan was blocked by a conservative-leaning Supreme Court last summer.

A Pew Research Center study revealed that 82% of adults believe public education has been declining over the past five years. Conservatives oppose culturally sensitive issues such as gender identity and race-related topics; progressive adults are concerned about gun violence and advocate for safer schools.

Many prominent educators have called for the need to “reset” or restructure the system entirely. Education experts told
that what's called "communities in schools" models which emphasize collaboration with local agencies, are a start. However, they project a full reboot could take five to 10 years to achieve.

Cardona will be joined on the tour by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, education leaders and officials from the Education Department.