New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with attorneys general from seven other states, has initiated legal action against the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit challenges the department's decision to cancel teacher pipeline grant programs, which were authorized by Congress. These programs, known as the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED), aim to enhance K-12 teacher development, improve student achievement, and address staffing shortages in schools across rural and urban areas.
Attorney General James emphasized the importance of these programs: “The power of the purse belongs to Congress, and the Department of Education cannot unilaterally cut millions of dollars in funding for teachers and students who rely on it.” She highlighted that these cuts could deprive students in underserved communities of quality education.
In February, Acting Secretary of Education Denise Carter announced significant funding cuts to TQP and SEED programs. The department justified this move by labeling the grants as discriminatory. However, critics argue that these programs have been instrumental in placing teachers in underserved districts and providing necessary support for teacher training.
The lawsuit claims that the Department of Education violated the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating funding without congressional approval. It warns that this decision will disrupt teacher workforce pipelines and destabilize local school systems. Schools may be forced to hire long-term substitutes or unlicensed teachers due to a lack of qualified candidates.
In New York alone, SUNY and CUNY institutions received over $16 million from these grants to train teachers for high-need districts. The cancellation threatens ongoing educational initiatives like Lehman College’s LUTE-MULTI program, which serves multilingual students in the Bronx.
The SEED program's cancellation at various institutions such as SUNY Buffalo will affect 100 teachers and around 6,000 students. Similarly, TQP program cuts will impact more than 120 teachers and approximately 13,000 students.
Melinda Person from New York State United Teachers expressed concern over potential setbacks for students: “Teacher pipeline programs are vital... Without educators to fill these spots, New York’s students will suffer.” Michael Mulgrew from the United Federation of Teachers echoed this sentiment regarding existing teacher shortages impacting special education.
This lawsuit is part of Attorney General James' broader efforts to protect federally funded programs aiding vulnerable communities. Recently, she also challenged federal decisions affecting medical research funding.
Attorneys general from California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin have joined James in this legal challenge against the Department of Education.