U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Stops In Louisville During Bus Tour

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan touted two Louisville educational institutions Thursday during a stop in the city.

Duncan visited Louisville during a seven-state bus tour through the Midwest. He is stopping in 10 cities, along with other senior Education Department officials, to highlight programs the department believes are working.

Early Thursday, Duncan visited Jeffersontown High School.

Duncan said he included the school on his tour because it has figured out an effective way bridge the gap between high school, college and employment. J-town High includes Jefferson County Public Schools' technical education program; it offers technology training as well as job-shadowing opportunities.

“It’s amazing what they are doing there,” he said. “It’s a school with a real career focus. They are fantastic community partners. And what the students articulated so clearly is just how excited they are to go to school because they know why they are going there.”

Duncan also discussed college affordability during a visit to the University of Louisville later in the day.

He said U of L is "working so hard to make sure students feel comfortable when they come there. Helping them meet not just their financial aid needs but their social needs if they need help -- academic needs.”

This is Duncan’s second visit to Louisville this year. Cincinnati, Ohio, is the last stop on the bus tour.