Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has joined forces with a coalition of attorneys general to file a lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The legal action challenges the termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs across the nation, which includes over $6 million in cuts affecting Massachusetts-based initiatives. These programs are designed to address the ongoing shortage of licensed teachers in school districts such as Springfield, Holyoke, and Boston.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, contends that these abrupt terminations violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The attorneys general aim to secure a temporary restraining order to reinstate funding and prevent further disruptions that could reduce teacher numbers in schools, particularly those serving rural and urban communities.
AG Campbell emphasized the impact on vulnerable students: "The Trump Administration’s unlawful funding cuts have recklessly disrupted programs designed to address the ongoing teacher shortage in the Commonwealth, including those serving vulnerable students with special needs."
Gregory Kelly from UMass Amherst College of Education expressed disappointment over the project's cancellation: "It was disappointing to learn that this project was cancelled with only 5 hours notice."
Since February 7, 2025, hundreds of millions in nationwide grants funded through Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development programs have been terminated by the Department of Education. These funds were intended to support teacher preparation programs that help non-teachers become licensed educators, focusing on rural and urban areas and hard-to-fill subjects like math and science.
In Massachusetts alone, these cuts threaten layoffs and program reductions. Programs such as UMass's “Para to Teacher Program” face significant challenges without these funds. Similarly, Boston Public Schools' “Teacher Pipeline Programs” may need to eliminate positions crucial for bilingual paraeducators' progression into licensed teaching roles.
In 2024, about one in eight teaching positions nationwide were either vacant or filled by uncertified teachers. Such shortages can adversely affect student education through larger class sizes or inadequately staffed courses.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin co-lead this lawsuit alongside AG Campbell. Attorneys general from Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin also joined.
Statements supporting this legal action came from several educational leaders. Dr. Patrick Tutwiler thanked AG Campbell for addressing workforce shortages: "Our state remains focused on building a more diverse...teacher pipeline." Erik Berg highlighted Boston's loss due to canceled funding: "Boston lost a needed pipeline...to serve our community." Max Page praised efforts against federal actions undermining public education values: "We applaud Attorney General Andrea Campbell...for challenging yet another attack on public education." Jessica Tang stressed protecting public education as essential: "Public education is a public good critical to our democracy."