Education Secretary Arne Duncan listens to fourth graders read at Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary School in Philadelphia. (AP)

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, activist Rev. Al Sharpton and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich launched a tour Tuesday to push cities to fix failing schools in underserved communities and rally support for the Obama administration's programs to reform public education.

The tour began in Philadelphia with visits to two public charter schools and other programs that have made major academic strides. The trio also will visit New Orleans on Nov. 3 and Baltimore on Nov. 13. Other locations will be added later.

Duncan has said the cities are being chosen both for logistical reasons and for what they can show about school reform.

"These are cities that have real challenges, but also tremendous hope and opportunity," he said in a recent interview.

Gingrich and Sharpton told NBC’s "Today" show they were setting aside their political differences to work on the common goal of education.

"If there's anything Americans should be mature enough about to have a decent conversation, it's the education of their children," Sharpton said.

The pair, along with Secretary Duncan, have hit the hustings to lobby for President Obama’s education agenda that calls for greater accountability, as well as improved teacher and principal quality, and aims to turn around 5,000 failing schools across the country over the next five years.

Among the ideas being pursued are longer schools terms and accountability, improved principal and teacher quality and more charter schools.

Public education in Philadelphia is a mixture of district-run schools, schools operated by private management companies and charter schools, which are public but operate independently from the district.

Besides visiting classrooms, the group also had closed meetings with teachers, administrators and parents, where they were expected to discuss Obama's education reform initiatives.

The team started the tour at Mastery Charter School in West Philadelphia, which was one of the district’s most violent underperformers before it was taken over by a nonprofit that now has four campuses in Philadelphia serving 2,100 students. The school, which has new teachers, is now one of the jewels of the Philadelphia system and students have even outperformed some of their suburban counterparts in standardized testing.

---

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Most want paid more to do less. Prima Dona's related to cheque writers come to work to come to work. Our children not learning was not their problem, they were getting paid. Building a system of political networks instead of teaching systems, learning areas, to cultivate esteem, cultural literacy, intellectual developing innovative technologies was furthest from "being paid" minds. Encouraged to have this mindset guaranteed jobs. Glad system changing, so a change can get back to caring for children in huge areas of concern. Write on Sharpton, Newt &Dept.Ed Arne

Fear our of youth succeeding has been a problem in the USA. The fact that our children can't learn is stupid:money, energy, time, talent, building space, real estate, devoted to children colored dark is part of USA ed problem. To see so many people of color going somewhere hurt international communities feelings (Berlin Wall, mass Latin immigration). When drugs hit our cities toothbrushes to****ist, teachers had to be policemen,judge, jury, social worker... standing firm with our most valuable resource:future in hands of a vulnerable generation.

article said something about nonprofit took over schools. Being paid is where this educational journey takes place. Who's being paid to teach our children, and why. Good teachers are necessary, dedicated, knowlegeable people with temperment, energy, committed to getting through to our children---and as they do, because in the past numerous got through---they can't get afraid of the brightness, the intelligence, the upward motion, direction life, liberty&happiness that educational difference is will be and factually occurs in young boys and girls, and their families life.

@REAL_Change_is_Needed

INDIVIDUALISM!!!! then COLLECTIVISM!!!! Yes!!!

I don't think Rev.Sharpton is wacky.But I do think he has missed the issues on this one. Teacher contracts do not stop anyone from being fired. As in any job there are procedures and protocol for firing. Unions came into exisitance to help the employee from being abused by the employer. Students are not being educated for a number of reasons. The elected officals want to use the teachers for scapegoats. Yes there are bad teachers , but last time I looked 10% of every profession has bad apples. We need to look at what is coming into our schools and work together and get our students educated.