Judge Orders Education Dept. to Restore Some Grants to Schools

On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that the Education Department must reinstate certain federal grants that had been revoked as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Judge Julie R. Rubin of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland determined that the department had acted unlawfully and without proper justification when it cut $600 million in funding. These grants were instrumental in placing teachers in underprivileged schools. In addition to restoring the funds, the judge prohibited any further reductions to these grants.

These grants support programs designed to train and certify educators to work in struggling districts that often face difficulties in attracting qualified teachers. Many of the programs aimed to cultivate a diverse teaching workforce and offered training in areas such as special education.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon and her department justified the decision to terminate the grants by claiming that they promoted “social justice activism” and other “divisive ideologies.”

A coalition of educator organizations—including the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the National Center for Teacher Residencies—filed a lawsuit challenging the cuts, arguing that their members relied on the funding.

Judge Rubin ruled that withdrawing the federal funds would cause significant harm to students and schools with the least resources.

“The plaintiffs have demonstrated substantial public harm: fewer teachers available for students in high-need areas, early childhood education programs, and special education,” she wrote. “Furthermore, even if the defendants cite an interest in eliminating DEI-based initiatives, the court finds their methods likely violate the law.”

In early February, schools participating in the affected programs received notice from the Education Department stating that the grants were being terminated as part of an effort to “eliminate discrimination in all forms of education nationwide.”

The grants, provided through initiatives like the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program and the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, are awarded competitively to states and school districts in need of support. They also help establish specialized college programs aimed at preparing educators to work in schools facing literacy challenges or performance disparities.

For instance, last year, Miami-Dade County secured a nearly $10 million grant to facilitate a partnership between Miami Dade College and the local public school system. The initiative aimed to train 180 teachers over five years to help address teacher shortages in high-need schools.

Similarly, Sacred Heart University in Connecticut—where Secretary McMahon previously served on the board of trustees—received nearly $3.5 million to enroll around 20 teaching residents annually. These residents, working under experienced mentors, would help staff schools struggling with teacher shortages, with a particular focus on recruiting teachers of color.

The court’s preliminary injunction also applied to the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program, which provided financial rewards to teachers and principals who successfully closed achievement gaps in underperforming schools. While the ruling stopped short of a nationwide injunction, it mandated that the Education Department reinstate funding for any grant recipients involved in the lawsuit.

In recent years, Congress has allocated over $200 million for these programs. However, the recently passed continuing resolution offers less clarity than a full budget, granting the Education Department greater discretion in distributing federally appropriated funds.