Defending Education alleges that the Minnesota Educators Partnership runs state-funded teacher pipeline programs limited to BIPOC applicants, potentially violating federal civil-rights law. Program documents for the Teaching Fellows initiative reportedly require applicants to identify as BIPOC and specify that the governing council 'must be majority individuals of color.' The partnership received $1.5 million in 2023 through Minnesota’s Grow Your Own grant, and state data cited in the report shows some districts had 100% participants identifying as People of Color or Indigenous. MSU Mankato says it follows grant criteria and state law, while the watchdog warns the practices may breach Title VI.
Watchdog Alleges State-Funded Minnesota Teacher Program Excludes White Applicants; Legal Questions Raised
Watchdog exposes taxpayer-funded teacher program for banning White applicants: 'Likely illegal'
An education watchdog group this week released a report alleging that a state-funded teacher-preparation partnership in Minnesota restricts program eligibility by race, a practice the group says may violate federal civil-rights law.
Defending Education reviewed materials from the Minnesota Educators Partnership (MEP) — a collaboration that includes Minnesota State University, Mankato and several southern Minnesota school districts — and concluded that multiple teacher pipeline programs run by the partnership are limited to applicants who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). The partnership received $1.5 million in state grant funding in 2023 through Minnesota’s Grow Your Own (GYO) initiative, which aims to recruit and train teachers and diversify the educator workforce.
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Programs and Eligibility Rules
The report focuses on two MEP initiatives: 'Teachers of Tomorrow,' which targets high school students, and 'Teaching Fellows,' an adult pathway designed to help participants earn teaching licenses. Documents obtained for the Teaching Fellows program state the initiative is 'open to applicants who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC)' and require participants to be 'of color or American Indian.' Some application forms reportedly require applicants to affirmatively check a box indicating they are BIPOC to be eligible.
Governance And Data Cited
Defending Education also highlights race-based governance rules in program materials. According to those documents, decisions for the Teaching Fellows project are made by a council that 'must be majority individuals of color.' The watchdog cites a 2024 Minnesota Department of Education report showing that in several participating districts, 100% of MEP participants identified as 'People of Color or Indigenous.'
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Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital: 'Minnesota's race-based programming for aspiring teachers is likely illegal, and I wouldn't be surprised if federal authorities decide to take a closer look.' She added, 'The goal of diversifying the teacher pipeline isn't the problem; discriminating on the basis of race is the problem.'
Response And Legal Context
In response, Minnesota State University, Mankato said the institution values access to education and an inclusive environment and that it 'follows all grant criteria established by the Minnesota Department of Education’s Grow Your Own program and Minnesota state law.' The university directed inquiries to its website for more information about the Minnesota Educators Partnership and related initiatives.
Defending Education argues the practices may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in programs that receive federal funds. The allegations come amid ongoing national debate and federal scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, including past executive actions aimed at limiting federal funding for race-based programs.
What Comes Next
The report raises legal and policy questions about the balance between efforts to diversify the teacher workforce and federal civil-rights protections. It may prompt further review by state or federal authorities; however, the claims remain allegations from a watchdog group and have been disputed by the university's statement that it complies with grant and state requirements.
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