A prominent education watchdog has released a report suggesting that Minnesota’s teacher preparation partnership may be violating federal law by limiting eligibility based on race. This partnership, known as the Minnesota Educator Partnership (MEP), involves collaborations between MSU Mankato and several southern Minnesota school districts and focuses on programs specifically for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) applicants. Funded through state taxpayer dollars, it received $1.5 million in grants this year as part of Minnesota’s “Grow Your Own” program, aimed at diversifying the teaching workforce.
The report highlights two MEP initiatives, “Teachers of Tomorrow” for high school students and “Teaching Fellows” for adults seeking teaching licenses. Documentation for the Teaching Fellows program explicitly states it is open only to BIPOC applicants, with some materials requiring applicants to indicate their racial identity in order to apply.
Moreover, the report points out that race-based governance rules apply to how these programs are run. Decisions are made by a council that must consist of a majority of people of color, according to the program documents. The report cites data from the Minnesota Department of Education indicating that, in some districts, all MEP participants identified as BIPOC.
Erica Sange, senior director of communications for Defending Education, warned that these practices could violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs. She noted that Minnesota’s program is likely illegal and suggested that federal investigations could be forthcoming.
While the intention behind diversifying the teaching pipeline is noble, Sange stated, the methods used raise concerns about potential discrimination. In contrast, a spokesperson for MSU Mankato emphasized the university’s commitment to educational access for all and compliance with state guidelines related to the “Grow Your Own” program.
This report arrives at a time when the Trump administration is aiming to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools, through an executive order that restricts federal funding to institutions that implement race-based curricula and hiring practices.
