ED Cuts $600M in Teacher Training Grants
This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced the termination of over $600 million in grants previously awarded to institutions and nonprofits to train teachers.
The rationale for canceling the grants was “divisive ideologies” embedded in the projects. The grants, including Teacher Quality Partnership grants, Supporting Effective Educator Development grants, and Teacher and School Leader grants, support teacher preparation programs, and many incorporated diversity, equity, and inclusion into their grant proposal language, a stated priority of the Biden-Harris Administration. Some programming included professional development on systemic inequities, racial bias, cultural competence, and equity-focused classroom strategies. Additionally, some programs emphasized diversity in the recruitment of prospective teachers.
The decision to terminate the funding reflects the Trump-Vance Administration’s priority to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion from all federal initiatives.