A district judge temporarily restored teacher preparation grants that were axed by the Trump administration in February.
District Judge Julie Rubin issued an injunction restoring the grants, saying “the Department’s action was unreasonable, not reasonably explained, based on factors Congress had not intended the Department to consider.”
If followed, the ruling restores hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts the department canceled because it said the programs promoted divisive ideologies in schools.
The lawsuit was brought on by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), the National Center for Teacher Residencies, and the Maryland Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
“We are thrilled that the court has ruled in favor of preserving funding for TQP, SEED, and TSL grants, which have a transformative impact on our nation’s education system,” said AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy.
“I commend the unwavering dedication that led to this decision and remain hopeful that institutions, nonprofits, and partners across America can continue to strengthen our educator workforce, and address critical shortages while ensuring that every child in our nation has access to exceptional educators and a high-quality educational experience,” Holcomb-McMcCoy added.
Rubin said the pause of the grants could have an “effect on the public: fewer teachers for students in high-need neighborhoods, early childhood education, and special education programs.”
The ruling comes after a judge in a separate ruling on the teacher preparation grants, in a case brought by eight Democratic state attorneys general, temporarily ruled for the grants to be restored.
The Department of Education appealed the ruling in that case and will likely do the same for the latest ruling.
The Hill has reached out to the department for comment.
