A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate several education grants it had previously eliminated as part of its efforts to dismantle DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs.
U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin, ruling from Maryland, found that the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to end the grants was likely “arbitrary and capricious.” She stated that the agency’s actions were unreasonable, inadequately justified, and inconsistent with congressional intent.
Rubin warned that terminating the grants could have a “grave effect on the public,” including exacerbating teacher shortages in high-need communities.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the National Center for Teacher Residencies, and the Maryland Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, challenged the administration’s termination of more than 100 educator preparation grants. The plaintiffs argued that the funding had been allocated through congressionally approved programs and was essential for training new teachers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that during the 2020-2021 school year, 80% of public school teachers were white, while Hispanic and Black teachers accounted for just 9% and 6%, respectively. The plaintiffs contended that eliminating these grants would hinder efforts to diversify the teaching workforce and address critical teacher shortages.
Kathlene Campbell, CEO of the National Center for Teacher Residencies, praised the ruling, emphasizing the importance of sustaining teacher preparation programs. “At a time when we as a nation are enduring local teacher shortages, especially in critical areas of need, we must not fall short in supporting the preparation of teachers,” she said.
This decision follows a similar ruling from a federal judge in Boston, who also directed the Trump administration to temporarily reinstate grants for teacher preparation programs in eight states.
The U.S. Department of Education has yet to comment on the ruling.
