Attorney General Bonta Secures Court Ruling Finding Termination of K-12 Teacher Preparation Grants Unlawful
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases · · g5378538
September 18, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta yesterday secured a final court order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts finding the Trump Administration’s termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs unlawful. Beginning in February 2025, California institutions received letters purporting to terminate grants totaling at least $148 million in critical funding to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage through teacher preparation programs. These programs are designed to create a pipeline for teachers serving rural and urban communities and teaching harder-to-fill positions like math and science and have been shown to increase teacher retention rates and ensure that educators remain in the profession beyond the crucial first five years. California led a multisite coalition in challenging the terminations , and yesterday, the court granted its motion for summary judgment, finding the Trump Administration's termination of these grants arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). “Since Day One, the Trump Administration has pursued an anti-education agenda, repeatedly attempting to slash funding to undermine teacher training, student mental health, classroom technology, and more. Once again, a court said no,” said Attorney General Bonta . “There is nothing more important that our students' educational future — and their success relies on ensuring we’re continuing to train up the teachers of tomorrow.” In 2024, more than 400,000 teaching positions in the U.S. — representing about one in eight of all teaching positions nationwide — were vacant or filled by uncertified teachers. When schools are unable to find qualified teachers, students suffer. Teacher shortages can result in larger class sizes, cancelled courses, or classes staffed with teachers less able to teach a subject. To address the nationwide teacher shortage, especially for hard-to-fill subject areas, like math, science, and special education, and in hard-to-staff school districts in rural and urban areas, Congress established and allocated funding pursuant to the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development grant programs to train teachers, create a new teacher pipeline, and improve teacher quality. The U.S. Department of Education subsequently awarded and obligated funds to states’ public universities and associated nonprofits grants under these programs to do exactly what Congress mandated — provide teacher training, placement, and retention, and new teacher pipeline development in the states. Beginning on February 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education terminated, with immediate effect, hundreds of millions in grants awarded to K-12 teacher preparation programs in California and nationwide. In California alone, the Department provided notice of termination of grants with a total value of at least $148 million in funding across a number of grants. These terminations have been felt across California schools, who rely on these programs to bring teachers into their classrooms. Yesterday’s court order blocks these harmful terminations on a moving forward basis. Attorney General Bonta led this lawsuit with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. They were joined by the attorneys general of Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit. Tags: Federal Accountability Federal Accountability: Education
September 18, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta yesterday secured a final court order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts finding the Trump Administration’s termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs unlawful. Beginning in February 2025, California institutions received letters purporting to terminate grants totaling at least $148 million in critical funding to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage through teacher preparation programs. These programs are designed to create a pipeline for teachers serving rural and urban communities and teaching harder-to-fill positions like math and science and have been shown to increase teacher retention rates and ensure that educators remain in the profession beyond the crucial first five years. California led a multisite coalition in challenging the terminations , and yesterday, the court granted its motion for summary judgment, finding the Trump Administration's termination of these grants arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). “Since Day One, the Trump Administration has pursued an anti-education agenda, repeatedly attempting to slash funding to undermine teacher training, student mental health, classroom technology, and more. Once again, a court said no,” said Attorney General Bonta . “There is nothing more important that our students' educational future — and their success relies on ensuring we’re continuing to train up the teachers of tomorrow.” In 2024, more than 400,000 teaching positions in the U.S. — representing about one in eight of all teaching positions nationwide — were vacant or filled by uncertified teachers. When schools are unable to find qualified teachers, students suffer. Teacher shortages can result in larger class sizes, cancelled courses, or classes staffed with teachers less able to teach a subject. To address the nationwide teacher shortage, especially for hard-to-fill subject areas, like math, science, and special education, and in hard-to-staff school districts in rural and urban areas, Congress established and allocated funding pursuant to the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development grant programs to train teachers, create a new teacher pipeline, and improve teacher quality. The U.S. Department of Education subsequently awarded and obligated funds to states’ public universities and associated nonprofits grants under these programs to do exactly what Congress mandated — provide teacher training, placement, and retention, and new teacher pipeline development in the states. Beginning on February 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education terminated, with immediate effect, hundreds of millions in grants awarded to K-12 teacher preparation programs in California and nationwide. In California alone, the Department provided notice of termination of grants with a total value of at least $148 million in funding across a number of grants. These terminations have been felt across California schools, who rely on these programs to bring teachers into their classrooms. Yesterday’s court order blocks these harmful terminations on a moving forward basis. Attorney General Bonta led this lawsuit with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. They were joined by the attorneys general of Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit. Tags: Federal Accountability Federal Accountability: Education
Источник: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases