Chicago — Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s unlawful termination of K-12 teacher preparation pipeline grants while the states seek a preliminary injunction.
Raoul, as part of a coalition of eight attorneys general, filed a lawsuit challenging the termination of this funding last week.
“Teacher preparation grants are a key tool to address the serious teacher shortage crisis that continues to affect school districts across Illinois,” Raoul said. “The Trump administration’s shortsighted and unlawful termination of these grants would lead to larger class sizes, less one-on-one time with students and limit the ability for teachers to prepare students for their futures. I’m pleased that the court granted our request for a temporary restraining order to pause these cuts from going into effect.”
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, canceled 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 via grants under these programs. The grants are intended to support states’ efforts to do exactly what Congress mandated – provide teacher training, placement and retention, and new teacher pipeline development.
Beginning Feb. 7, the Department of Education terminated, with immediate effect, grants awarded to K-12 teacher preparation programs in Illinois and nationwide. If allowed to take effect, the terminations would be felt immediately in Illinois schools that rely on these programs to bring teachers into their classrooms. The terminations would also cause layoffs or reductions in hours for university staff and would result in reduced or eliminated support and funding for new and aspiring teachers.
