JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida is now missing out on $7 million after the U.S. Department of Education defunded a program designed to address teacher shortages.
A week ago, UNF received notices from the DOE that the grant was terminated because it was funding programs that, according to the department, “promote or take part in DEI initiatives;” violate civil rights law; conflict with prioritizing merit, fairness and excellence; are not free free of fraud or abuse; or “otherwise fail to serve the best interests of the United States.”
UNF had been using the money from the grant to fund its PREP program, which stands for Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline.
The program involved a partnership between Clay County District Schools and UNF’s College of Arts and Sciences that included five components:
- High school dual enrollment
- Undergraduate teacher preparation and certification
- Early career professional learning
- Teacher leadership graduate certificates and advanced credentials stackable towards a Master’s in Elementary Education at UNF or school principal learning through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
- Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership or Curriculum and Instruction offered through UNF.
The teacher shortage is a problem plaguing counties, cities and towns across the nation.
But the notification from the DOE to UNF said that it would not support “programs or organizations that promote or take part in diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives or any other initiatives that unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or another protected characteristic."
CCDS sent this statement about the abrupt end to the program’s funding:
“The District values its strong partnership with UNF and remains committed to collaboratively finding solutions and continuing to support teacher recruitment and retention efforts in our community following the change in funding for the previously awarded grant. We will continue to work with UNF as a valued partner to explore alternative strategies and ensure a robust pipeline of qualified educators for our students in Northeast Florida.”
