Members of the Detroit Caucus stand with state Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley) and community members outside of Renaissance High School on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025.
DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 8, 2025 — Today, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Renaissance High School in Detroit as part of Trump’s “Returning Education to the States Tour.” Prior to their arrival, a protest from community members sparked, with demands made that the federal government, Hall and the Republican-led state House adequately fund public schools. The visit comes as Michigan’s public schools grapple with Republican cuts in D.C., compounded by proposed cuts in the House education budget out of Lansing.
“Our students and educators deserved to have started the school year knowing their education was fully funded but instead were met with political stunts and photo opportunities. I think it’s strange that the U.S. Secretary of Education chose one of the highest achieving schools in Detroit to visit, without engaging parents and other education advocates. If she had communicated with them, she may have heard firsthand how families and educators work tirelessly every day, but without the resources they need, our students and schools will not succeed. She may have heard how Michigan’s kids rely on government funding for everything from school meals to mental health resources to English language instruction. She may have even heard that touring Renaissance High School while cutting these very lifelines seemed cruel and disingenuous,” said state Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit), Detroit Caucus chair.
“Touring schools while cutting the funding, tools and services they depend on is not partnership, it’s neglect. If Secretary McMahon and Speaker Hall truly wanted to respond to students’ needs, they would start by ensuring congressional funds and passing a well-balanced state education budget. They would be protecting the programs students and families rely on everyday, not slashing them. Our students deserve more than empty words and political stunts, they deserve real investments. Michigan Republicans need to focus on making sure kids are fed and teachers are supported, not on ego-driven photo opportunities,” said state Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park), Detroit Caucus secretary.
“Across the state, some school districts are already preparing for layoffs while others are forced to tap into their savings to simply keep the doors open. Michigan’s children cannot be collateral damage in political battles; they deserve leadership that protects their future,” said state Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit), Detroit Caucus treasurer. “Detroit has lived through the harm of chronic underfunding and painful school closures. We will not allow our children to be forced down that path again. They deserve dignity, resources, and the full measure of opportunity. If Republicans are sincere about valuing education, they must move beyond political theater and commit to the real investments that strengthen our schools and safeguard our children’s future.”
“It is so painful to see students continuously being used as political props by Republicans. They’ve gone from severely underfunding schools to touring these same schools to get photo ops. My colleagues and I won’t stand idly by. House Dems will keep protecting schools and defending the programs and services Michiganders depend on,” said state Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit), Detroit Caucus vice chair.
“Detroit Public Schools need to be responsibly funded — in fact, all schools across our state and our country need guaranteed investments. If Republicans truly value education and kids, they would end their mission to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and fully fund children’s futures and start delivering the funding and support every student deserves,” Young continued. “It’s my hope that after today’s tour, Speaker Matt Hall has a clear understanding of why every dollar of school aid funding needs to be restored and is committed to negotiating a budget for the welfare and benefit of all Michiganders before the October 1st deadline. House Dems are laser focused on preventing a government shutdown and we won’t stop fighting until the job gets done!”
State Reps. Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe) and Natalie Price (D-Berkley) also attended the protest to demand protection for Michigan schools.
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