U.S. Department of Education
12/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/05/2025 16:13
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Concludes First Stops on National History Rocks! Tour in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey
December 5, 2025
Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon completed the U.S. Department of Education's (the Department) first three school visits on the national History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour in celebration of America's upcoming 250th birthday. The Secretary visited Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Middletown, Delaware; and Colts Neck, New Jersey. The History Rocks! tour aims to strengthen civic literacy by helping students connect personally with America's founding principles.
In Pennsylvania, Secretary McMahon met with students and teachers at Foose Elementary School, part of Harrisburg Community Schools. Following a tour of the school, students from kindergarten through fifth grade gathered in the auditorium to hear from Secretary McMahon about the importance of civic engagement and participate in themed educational games.
During the Delaware stop, Secretary McMahon visited St. Georges Technical High School, part of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District (NCCVT) where she participated in a civics classroom visit. In support of her Returning Education to the States Tour, where Secretary McMahon identifies a wide variety of innovative educational practices in local communities, the Secretary also observed hands-on learning in St. Georges' programs such as Biotechnology, Medical Assisting, Teacher Academy for Early Childhood Education, Electrical Trades, and Automotive Technology.
The final visit of the launch week took place at Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Secretary McMahon stopped into a Civics class to learn about our nation's founding before hosting an assembly with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
"As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, we have a responsibility to help every student understand the ideas that shaped the United States," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "History education should inspire students to think critically, to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy, and to recognize their own ability to contribute to America's future. The History Rocks! tour celebrates schools that are doing exactly that - empowering students with knowledge of who we are and what it means to be an American."
Background
The History Rocks! initiative is a key component of the U.S. Department of Education's America 250 celebrations, coordinated with the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, a national partnership with the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 50 national and state organizations. This coalition is dedicated to advancing civic education and expanding opportunities for students to learn about the ideas, individuals, and events that define the American story.
Secretary McMahon and Administration officials will visit schools in all 50 states to showcase examples of high-quality history and civics instruction that bring American principles to life.
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