Millions of Dollars in Funding at Risk for Maryland’s Teacher Pipeline Programs Amid Ongoing Teacher Shortage
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for unlawfully terminating millions of dollars in critical funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs. These programs, designed to address Maryland’s ongoing teacher shortage, face sudden termination due to an abrupt action by the U.S. Department of Education, threatening the education system in the state and nationwide.
On February 7, 2025, letters from the Department of Education were sent to Maryland institutions, abruptly notifying them that funding for teacher preparation programs would be terminated. These programs, which play a crucial role in preparing teachers for hard-to-staff positions—such as math, science, and special education—serve as a vital pipeline for educators in both urban and rural communities. They also help improve teacher retention by ensuring educators stay in the profession beyond the crucial first five years.
“The termination of this funding will severely hurt Maryland’s efforts to recruit and retain the teachers that are essential for our students’ future success,” said Maryland Attorney General Brown. “A highly-qualified teacher can change a child’s life. Removing funding from programs that support teacher training and retention would further strain under-resourced classrooms, particularly in our most vulnerable communities.”
Nationwide, the teacher shortage crisis is intensifying. In 2024, more than 400,000 teaching positions across the U.S.—about one in eight teaching positions—were either vacant or filled by uncertified teachers. Inadequate staffing leads to larger class sizes, course cancellations, and negatively impacts the quality of education.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argues that the termination of funding for these programs without notice or a public comment period violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The coalition of attorneys general is requesting a temporary restraining order to prevent any immediate disruptions to these vital programs, which would reduce the number of teachers and teacher trainees in schools across the nation.
The Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development grant programs were established by Congress to address the teacher shortage, particularly in high-need subject areas and underserved districts. These programs, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, provide grants to public universities and nonprofit organizations to help train new teachers, improve teacher quality, and place educators in classrooms where they are most needed.
In Maryland alone, the termination of these grants would result in significant disruptions, including layoffs or reduction in hours for university staff, the elimination of support services for aspiring teachers, and reduced resources for schools relying on the teacher preparation pipeline.
Attorney General Brown, joined by colleagues from California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin, emphasizes the critical importance of these grants in addressing the teacher shortage, especially in rural and urban areas where qualified teachers are desperately needed.
“The federal government’s decision to cut these essential funds puts Maryland’s teachers—and the students they serve—in jeopardy,” said Maryland Attorney General Brown. “We will continue to fight to ensure that our state’s education system remains strong, that our teachers are properly trained, and that our students have access to the highest quality education possible.”
In New York’s- The State University of New York (SUNY) and The City University of New York (CUNY) schools were awarded over $16 million in funding for teacher preparation programs aimed at addressing teacher shortages in underserved districts. These programs were designed to train teachers for high-need areas, with the expectation that they would serve thousands of students. However, the recent funding termination has left current educators in training without stipends, jeopardizing their ability to support themselves, and future candidates are now unable to enter the profession. Notably, programs like Lehman College’s LUTE-MULTI, which trains teachers for multilingual and special education roles in the Bronx, and various SEED and TQP programs at SUNY Buffalo and surrounding districts, are at risk of cancellation, impacting hundreds of teachers and thousands of students.
“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,” said New York Attorney General James. “Kids in rural and underserved communities deserve access to a quality education, and programs like SEED and TQP help bring qualified teachers to classrooms that desperately need it. Slashing funding for these critical programs robs students of the opportunity to succeed and thrive. My office is suing the Department of Education to help teachers and students in communities nationwide.”
In Massachusetts, the funding cuts have already disrupted programs, such as the University of Massachusetts’ “Para to Teacher Program,” which aimed to address the shortage of early childhood educators in high-needs districts. Boston Public Schools’ teacher pipeline program has also been impacted, potentially leading to layoffs and the elimination of key teacher training programs.
“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,” said Massachusetts AG Campbell. “By filing this lawsuit, we seek to restore funding to these necessary programs that help increase the number of high-quality educators in some of our most in-need school districts.”
“It was disappointing to learn that this project was cancelled with only 5 hours notice. Working with school leaders, UMass educators designed this program to support paraprofessionals to earn their initial teaching license,” said Gregory Kelly, Dean of the UMass Amherst College of Education. “Grounded in classroom practice, this project was developing a highly qualified workforce to teach our youngest learners.”
In New Jersey, two colleges with exemplary teacher preparation programs—Montclair State University (MSU) and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)—both received word that their grants were cut without explanation or warning.
“The Teacher Quality Partnership grants provided by the U.S. Department of Education help ensure our teachers remain the best-in-the-nation, allowing our future leaders to continue to receive the highest quality education possible. I thank Attorney General Platkin and his team for leading the fight for our state against yet another unlawful action by the Trump Administration.”
“We need more people to enter the teaching profession, not fewer, and this illegal action by the Trump Administration will harm not only teachers, but students in New Jersey who will be deprived of the education they are entitled to,” said New Jersey Attorney General Platkin. “Not only does it defy common sense to end these programs, but the manner in which the Trump Administration did so is also unlawful. The president and his so-called efficiency experts cannot unilaterally take away the Congressional authority that created and funded these programs, and we are taking action to protect teachers, students, and families across our state.”
In Colorado, The NxtGEN program has proven highly effective in tackling teacher shortages in Colorado, graduating 19 teachers annually who are now teaching in K-12 rural schools. Currently, 77 candidates are in the pipeline, preparing to serve rural communities. However, the Department of Education’s abrupt termination of the program will lead to the loss or reduction of 21 jobs, an estimated 50 new teachers for rural districts, and jeopardize the continuation of the teaching preparation program partnership in the state.
“The Trump administration’s unlawful termination of critical teacher preparation grants will have devastating impacts on rural communities across the state. 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,” said Colorado Attorney General Weiser. “We need to do everything we can to build a brighter future for our kids, and that is why I am fighting to stop the federal government from harming our rural schools.”
Impacted programs in Illinois include:
- Teacher Education Alliance Model (“TEAM”), a partnership between Cook County School District 104, Maywood–Melrose Park–Broadview School District 89 and Chicago State University that has a goal to prepare 300 apprentice teachers for employment in high-needs schools in communities like Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Broadview, Maywood, Melrose Park and Summit.
- Pre-Service Teaching Equity Project (“P-STEP”), a program created by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to better recruit, prepare, develop and retain a strong teacher workforce by supporting 300 student teachers every year, placing them at hard-to-staff CPS schools and improving their experience so they are more likely to accept full-time employment.
“Teacher preparation grants are a key tool to address the serious teacher shortage crisis that continues to affect school districts across Illinois,” Illinois Attorney General 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.”
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin’s largest district, faces a critical shortage of special education teachers, with around 100 positions vacant. A program designed to address this shortage was set to train special education teachers through a rigorous selection process, pairing them with mentors and providing graduate coursework and field experience. These teachers would commit to working in Milwaukee for at least three years. At the time of the grant’s termination, 10 individuals from the first cohort were already serving as teacher residents, with another 8 accepted into the second cohort and more applications in progress.
“As this case shows, wildly cutting grant funding without any serious deliberation has real-world consequences,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Kaul. “The court should step in and put a halt to the Trump administration’s attempt to eliminate this grant funding that’s helping to address the teacher shortage.”
As the lawsuit proceeds, the coalition is seeking to have the termination of these teacher preparation grants reversed, ensuring that critical funding continues to support schools, teachers, and future educators.
