California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a multistate lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the U.S. Department of Education's decision to discontinue awarded grants under the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) program.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that the termination of these competitive grants, which fund professional development for special education staff and support services for children with disabilities, is unlawful and harmful.
In California alone, over 880,000 students rely on special education services. The California Department of Education (CDE) had been awarded a five-year SPDG grant in 2022, but the Department discontinued it in September 2025, citing vague and baseless concerns about equity-related initiatives.
Attorney General Bonta criticized the Trump Administration for disregarding the needs of students with disabilities, stating that the discontinuation denies vulnerable students essential resources. The SPDG program, established in 2004 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), aims to improve long-term outcomes for children with disabilities.
CDE had successfully met all program goals and performance requirements during the funded period, receiving $2.1 million per year for three budget periods out of a total $10.5 million over five years. The lawsuit contends that the Department violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by acting arbitrarily and capriciously, failing to follow required procedures, and misapplying regulations.
It also argues that the Department changed its position without justification, first encouraging equity initiatives and then penalizing states for them. The coalition seeks to restore the funding and ensure continued support for special education services.