State Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, is calling on the Michigan House to take immediate action to restore critical school safety funding and pass crucial education reforms on Wednesday, the last scheduled session day for two months.

Greene warns that inaction now would leave students, teachers, and parents vulnerable for the upcoming school year and beyond.

“Time is running out, and our kids are the ones who will pay the price,” Greene said. “We have a clear opportunity to restore the school safety funding that was slashed in this year’s budget. Unless we act this week, schools will be forced to make devastating decisions – cutting mental health services, laying off school resource officers, and leaving our kids unprotected. This is unacceptable.”

Greene’s call to action follows a series of bills introduced by House Republicans aimed at improving school safety, enhancing teacher support, and updating Michigan’s outdated curriculum to better prepare students for the real world. Despite the urgency, these bills were referred to the House Government Operations Committee, a procedural move that often signals the Democrat majority’s reluctance to act.

“Let’s be honest – sending our bills to Government Operations is a sign that the Democrats aren’t taking this issue seriously,” Greene said. “That committee is where good ideas go to die. They’ve made it clear they’d rather let another class graduate without the skills they need for life than work with us on real solutions.

“As both the Republican vice chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Government Operations Committee, I can tell you, I’d rather be working with the chair of Education to solve these problems – not waiting for Gov Ops to move.”

The bills include a comprehensive education reform package that:

• Restores $305 million in school safety and mental health funding to replace the devastating cuts made earlier this year.
• Modernizes the Michigan Merit Curriculum to offer more flexible pathways for students, including vocational training, coding, and construction math.
• Provides teachers with better tools, including updated training on the science of reading and top-tier math and science curricula.
• Eases burdens on teachers by waiving state fees for certifications and streamlining the process for obtaining subject area endorsements.

Greene is urging her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put partisanship aside and work together for Michigan’s children.

“Our schools are already in session, and the longer we delay, the harder it becomes to fix these problems,” Greene said. “If we act now, we can still make a real difference this year – protecting our kids, empowering our teachers, and giving students the education they deserve. The sooner we act, the better off everyone will be.”

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