Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced that New Jersey is joining California and Massachusetts in leading a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal action challenges the early termination of U.S. Education Department grants intended for teacher preparation programs, which aim to address a national shortage of K-12 teachers in high-need areas and subjects such as math and special education.

Governor Phil Murphy emphasized New Jersey's commitment to maintaining its high-quality education system, attributing it to the state's skilled teachers. He expressed support for Attorney General Platkin's efforts against what he described as an unlawful decision by the Trump Administration.

Platkin criticized the termination, stating, "We need more people to enter the teaching profession, not fewer," highlighting potential harm to students deprived of their entitled education. He argued that the manner of terminating these programs was unlawful, claiming it bypassed Congressional authority.

In New Jersey, Montclair State University (MSU) and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) were informed without warning that their grants had been cut. This comes amid a nationwide shortage where over 400,000 teaching positions remain vacant or are filled by uncertified teachers.

The lawsuit contends that these terminations violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). It seeks a permanent injunction to prevent disruptions to teacher training programs and asks for a declaration that grant terminations are in violation of the APA.

New Jersey's legal team includes Deputy Attorneys General Jessica Palmer, Amanda Morejón, Lauren Van Driesen, and Elizabeth Walsh. Alongside New Jersey, states including Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin have joined the lawsuit filed in Massachusetts federal court.

Montclair State University used its funds from Teacher Quality Partnership grants to prepare teachers for Newark Board of Education and Orange Public Schools in subjects like math and science. TCNJ was training educators scheduled to graduate in Spring 2025 as part of its residency program.

The institutions received letters starting February 7 indicating an approximate $600 million funding cut for programs like Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED), aimed at fostering teachers for rural and urban communities and hard-to-fill roles.