AG Platkin announced that New Jersey is joining with California and Massachusetts to co-lead a 8 attorney general- lawsuit against the Trump administration over its illegal early termination of U.S. Education Department (USED) grants to fund critical teacher preparation programs. These grants are aimed at reversing a national shortage of K-12 teachers in high-need areas across the country and in subjects where it is hard to find qualified candidates, including math and special education.

“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. 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.” – AG Platkin