As a small, local example of the impact of how the Trump administration is recklessly cutting down the federal government, the school district my daughter attends has suddenly lost millions of dollars that helped it to attract teachers to work in the district’s highest-need schools.
The U.S. Department of Education announced last month it was canceling $600 million worth of “divisive teacher training grants” across the country, including $11.78 million for Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) to implement Project LEADERS (Leveraging Employee Advancement to Develop Excellence and Reach Success).
According to WCPSS, the grant helped hire 133 new teachers across the system’s 24 highest-need schools since January 2024, leading to a 40 percent reduction in teacher vacancies in those schools.
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The Department of Education characterized the grants it canceled as promoting critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and anti-racism. In the case of Wake County Public Schools, the money covered $1,500 hiring bonuses, $2,500 retention bonuses, training sessions, and tuition assistance for beginning teachers.
Chloe Courtney Bohl
A Teacher Reflects on the Impacts of Federal Funding Cuts to Wake County Schools (Indy Week)
Scott Boehmer 