The Trump administration has cut off over $23 million in federal grants for teacher-training programs in Louisiana, a move that will severely impact efforts to address teacher shortages and increase diversity within the state’s educator workforce. The decision has sent shockwaves through the education community, as the funds had been allocated to universities and nonprofits working to prepare teachers for classrooms, particularly in underrepresented communities.
The cuts, announced earlier this month, are part of a broader effort by the US Department of Education to eliminate programs associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). According to reports, the agency stated that grant-funded programs were promoting “divisive ideologies” and using race-based recruitment strategies. This decision has led to the termination of grants that had supported several key initiatives in Louisiana.
The canceled grants
Among the canceled grants, at least three were awarded to Louisiana institutions, including Tulane University, Xavier University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. These grants were designed to help recruit and train teachers for local public schools, focusing on increasing racial diversity in the teaching profession. One of the most significant losses was a Tulane-led initiative, which began in 2022, and had received more than $10 million over three years. The program aimed to create a pipeline of diverse, highly-trained teachers for New Orleans schools by recruiting local high school students, college students, and classroom aides.
“We are investing in homegrown educators who understand our students,” said Jahquille Ross, chief of talent at New Schools for New Orleans, as quoted by the nola.com. “These are the individuals who stay and are committed to the future of our children.”
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette also saw the termination of a $3 million grant, which had been aimed at helping schools in the Acadiana region create new pathways for aspiring teachers, particularly from underrepresented communities. Reach University, a California-based nonprofit, lost a $9.9 million grant intended to help school paraprofessionals earn teaching degrees while working full-time.
The impact on Louisiana’s education system
These funding cuts are a significant blow to Louisiana’s efforts to tackle its teacher shortage and promote a more diverse teaching workforce. In a state where about 30% of public-school teachers are people of color, compared to 60% of students, the importance of these programs cannot be overstated. The state had already made teacher diversity a priority, with state policymakers emphasizing recruitment programs aimed at attracting more people of color to the profession.
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, president of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, expressed concern about the long-term effects of the cuts, stating, as reported by the nola.com, that “eliminating funding for this vital work threatens student success, weakens community education systems, and undermines the nation’s long-term educational progress.”
As the Trump administration continues to target diversity programs, the future of such initiatives in Louisiana remains uncertain.
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