First Lady Jill Biden visiting Athens this afternoon. Dr. Biden was joined by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. After flying into Athens-Ben Epps Airport and being greeted by Mayor Kelly Girtz, the pair made a stop at the Ramsey Center at the University of Georgia, where they were met by President Jere Morehead.
The Athens visit was part of a three-state tour promoting how President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is supporting students in getting caught up through summer learning programs.
“Just like you and your students, I was teaching over Zoom,” Biden said. “And so, I saw how hard it was for my students, to keep them going and keep their attention.
The First lady called the funding essential.
“And so that’s why it was so important to pass the American Rescue Plan because we knew we had to help our students, whether it was academically, emotionally, socially, theses were all important parts of it. So important for programs like this.”
Biden and Cardona met with teachers, students, and parents with the Horizons National Summer learning program, which serves students from Barnett Shoals Elementary School. Secretary Cardona.
“The Horizons Program is a phenomenal program,” according to Cardona. “A program that other programs in the country could learn from.”
Biden visited Georgia, Connecticut, and Michigan during the tour.
