Trump Administration Slashes Millions in Teacher-Training Grants

Federal Government Slashes Funding for Key Teacher Training Programs, Citing DEI Concerns

The U.S. Education Department has discontinued two significant teacher-training programs as part of a larger initiative to eliminate programs linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These cuts impact professional development initiatives nationwide.

The affected programs include the $70 million-a-year Teacher Quality Partnerships (TQP) program and the $80 million-a-year Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grants. Both are competitive grant programs, with the last selection occurring in 2022, although some programs from that cycle have continued to receive funding.

Impact on Teacher Preparation and Recruitment

The Education Department plans to recover $600 million from these combined cuts. It remains unclear whether the department will attempt to reclaim funds already spent by these programs.

TQP grants are designed to foster collaborations between school districts, nonprofits, and universities, aiming to enhance teacher preparation and recruitment. These grants are foundational to many teacher-residency programs, which offer candidates a year of hands-on classroom experience. SEED grants support similar objectives, along with in-service professional development for educators and alternative entry routes into the profession.

“Teacher-prep programs should be prioritizing training that prepares youth with the fundamentals they need to succeed for the future, not wasting valuable training resources on divisive ideologies,” stated Savannah Newhouse, a department spokeswoman.

DEI Cited as Justification for Cuts

The current administration defines “wasting resources on divisive ideologies” as anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This move follows similar actions in 18 states that have restricted discussions on race and sex in classrooms. Pennsylvania also recently revised its teacher-prep guidelines to remove requirements for “anti-bias, anti-racism” training, following a lawsuit from a conservative group.

Critics argue that eliminating these programs undermines efforts to improve student outcomes. Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development stated, “Removing DEI doesn’t make education ‘neutral’—it reinforces inequalities that have existed for generations.”

Rationale Behind the Cancellations

The Education Department, through Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Washington, stated the grants were canceled because they “promote or take part in DEI initiatives,” potentially violate federal civil rights laws, conflict with the agency’s merit-based policy, or involve fraud or duplication.

However, grant recipients dispute these claims. Amanda Winkelsas, a clinical associate professor at the University at Buffalo, highlighted that the programs primarily address teacher shortages and professional learning. “There’s a way to rework the priorities of these programs to align with the administration’s priorities, but we’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater,” she said.

While some studies indicate that short-term anti-bias training may not lead to lasting behavioral changes, and can sometimes exacerbate stereotyping.

The TQP and SEED grants, were designed for longer duration, potentially mitigating these issues.

Financial and Programmatic Repercussions

The University at Buffalo’s teacher-residency program, for instance, lost both SEED and TQP grants, totaling $7.6 million. These funds provided stipends and support to student-teachers in yearlong residencies. While the university and its partner district can cover costs through the end of the year, the long-term impact is uncertain.

The program that was funded for several rounds, adapted to changing federal priorities. Initially emphasizing STEM, and shifting to social emotional learning. The most recent grants focused on creating path ways for diverse educators.

“I think it’s the focus on promoting educator diversity that is probably what they’re finding to be most problematic,” Winkelsas noted. “Our [teacher residency] cohorts tend to be older, they tend to have more work experience—and they do tend to be more racially and linguistically diverse.”

Accusations of Targeting Diverse Teachers

A.Dee Williams, a professor at California State University, Los Angeles, believes these cancellations are a direct attack on teachers from diverse backgrounds. The Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency, which recruits diverse candidates, lost its TQP funding.

“They think the teachers that we are producing are poisonous,” Williams asserted.

The department cited examples of canceled grants that involved “requiring practitioners to take personal and institutional responsibility for systemic inequities (e.g., racism)” and providing “equity training on topics such as ‘Building Cultural Competence,’ ‘Dismantling Racial Bias,’ and ‘Centering Equity in the Classroom.'”

Uncertain Future for Teacher Training Grants

President Trump issued a memorandum requesting details on all cuts. However, the Education Department has not provided criteria for how the teacher-prep grants were evaluated, nor has it confirmed whether the grants will be re-competed. Grantees have 30 days to appeal the terminations.

Winston-Salem TEACH, a collaborative teacher residency in North Carolina, saw its five-year, $4.7 million TQP grant canceled after just over two years. The program has turned to crowdfunding and is considering an appeal.

The residency program aimed at training teacher in high-needs, supported through TQP, also emphasized social emotional learning and culturally relevant teaching practices.

“The loss of this funding presents significant challenges for WS-TEACH, as it directly affects our ability to provide fair-wage stipends to our dedicated program participants,” said Kimberly Harrington, a spokesperson for Winston-Salem State University.

In Los Angeles, canceled funding was intended to cover tuition for current teacher candidates. “The students signed contracts to receive this TQP funding… and now with one quarter to go, all of a sudden, they have no recourse,” Williams explained.

A Potential for Re-evaluation

Carole Basile, dean of Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, suggests these cuts could prompt a re-evaluation of federal teacher training approaches. While a prior TQP grant helped ASU overhaul its programs, Basile believes the grants need rethinking to meet current school needs more effectively.

“We are at a pivotal time in thinking about our education workforce… and I don’t know that in the current iteration of either of those grants, we were going to hit those targets,” Basile said. She hopes for a “reset” to address workforce development issues comprehensively.

Long-Term Implications for Teacher Quality

While the federal government isn’t the primary funder of teacher preparation, its involvement has historically driven initiatives like teacher residencies. Brendan Bartanen, an assistant professor of education policy at the University of Virginia, expressed concern about the impact of these cuts.

“It really is a disinvestment in teacher quality and teacher supply at a time where we need those things more than ever,” Bartanen said. “It’s hard to imagine that there’s going to be an easy way to fill this large of a gap.”

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. Education Department has cut funding for two major teacher-training programs, TQP and SEED, totaling $150 million annually.
• The cuts are part of a broader effort to eliminate programs associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Affected programs include teacher residencies and initiatives aimed at recruiting and supporting diverse educators.
• The department aims to recoup $600 million from the combined cuts, but it’s unclear if it will seek funds already spent.
• Critics argue this move will exacerbate teacher shortages and reinforce existing educational inequalities.
• Grant recipients are scrambling to find alternative funding and are considering appealing.