Case: Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now v. United States Department Of Education

1:25-cv-15704 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Dec. 29, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

On December 29, 2025, Plaintiffs ACT Now Coalition and Metropolitan Family Services brought suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the U.S. Department of Education. Plaintiffs challenged the U.S. Department of Education’s abrupt decision to terminate two multi-year Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) grants. They alleged that continuation funding under ED regulations may be denied only for performance-related reasons. The complaint asserted violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing the agency acted arbitrarily and capriciously, contrary to law, and in excess of statutory authority. Plaintiffs further alleged constitutional violations under the Spending Clause and separation-of-powers principles, contending the Executive unlawfully imposed new conditions on congressionally appropriated funds.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72083484/parties/afterschool-for-children-and-teens-act-now-v-united-states-department-of/


Judge(s)

Durkin, Thomas Michael (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Chablani, Aneel Lachman (Illinois)

Diaz-Pollack, Beatriz Adriana (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Chicago, AUSA - (Illinois)

Johnson, Patrick Walter (Illinois)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-15704

Complaint

Afterschool for Children and Teens now v. U.S. Department of Education

Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72083484/afterschool-for-children-and-teens-act-now-v-united-states-department-of/

Last updated Feb. 11, 2026, 12:12 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-24522449. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Civil Cover Sheet

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Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now, Metropolitan Family Services by Aneel Lachman Chablani (Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

3

Complaint Exhibits by Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Declaration Merolli)(Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

1 Exhibit

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2 Exhibit

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3 Exhibit

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4 Exhibit

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5 Exhibit

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6 Exhibit

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7 Exhibit

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9 Exhibit

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10 Exhibit

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11 Exhibit

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12 Exhibit

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13 Exhibit

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14 Exhibit

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15 Exhibit

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16 Declaration Merolli

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Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

4

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now, Metropolitan Family Services by Beatriz Adriana Diaz-Pollack (Diaz-Pollack, Beatriz) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

RECAP
5

MOTION by Plaintiff Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now for temporary restraining order (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

1 Text of Proposed Order

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Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

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6

MOTION by Plaintiff Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now for temporary restraining order Memorandum in Support of Motion (Attachments: # 1 Appendix, # 2 Declaration Merolli, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit)(Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

1 Appendix

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2 Declaration Merolli

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3 Exhibit

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4 Exhibit

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5 Exhibit

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6 Exhibit

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7 Exhibit

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8 Exhibit

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11 Exhibit

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Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

RECAP
7

CERTIFICATE of Service of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order by Aneel Lachman Chablani on behalf of All Plaintiffs regarding MOTION by Plaintiff Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now for temporary restraining order 5 (Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 12/29/2025)

Dec. 29, 2025

Dec. 29, 2025

8

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now, Metropolitan Family Services by Emily Kiyoko Merolli; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24524491. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit)(Merolli, Emily) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

9

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Afterschool for Children and Teens (ACT) Now by Jocelyn Eskow Skinner; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24524552. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement)(Skinner, Jocelyn) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

10

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motions to appear pro hac vice 8 9 are granted. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

11

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Martha M. Pacold: This order is entered by Judge Pacold as Emergency Judge. Telephone emergency motion hearing on plaintiff's motion for temporary restraining order, 5, set for 12/31/2025 at 9:30 a.m. To join the telephone hearing please dial 650-479-3207 and enter access code 2310 276 7442#. Press # when prompted for an attendee number. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

12

DESIGNATION of Patrick Walter Johnson as U.S. Attorney for Defendants Linda McMahon, United States Department Of Education (Johnson, Patrick) (Entered: 12/30/2025)

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable M. David Weisman. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (lj, )

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (lj, )

Dec. 30, 2025

Dec. 30, 2025

13

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Martha M. Pacold: This order is entered by Judge Pacold as Emergency Judge. Telephone emergency motion hearing held on 12/31/2025. Plaintiffs' motion for temporary restraining order, 5, is denied for the reasons stated on the record. Telephone status hearing set for 1/6/2026 at 11:30 a.m. To join the telephone hearing please dial 650-479-3207 and enter access code 2310 276 7442#. Press # when prompted for an attendee number. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 12/31/2025)

Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2025

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ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates), any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this LINK will provide additional information. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 12/31/2025: Mailed notice. (tg, ) (Entered: 01/02/2026)

Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2025

15

ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates), any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this LINK will provide additional information. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 12/31/2025: Mailed notice. (tg, ) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2025

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NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by All Plaintiffs (Chablani, Aneel) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

19

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Linda McMahon and United States Department Of Education (Attachments: # 1 summons)(axk, ) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

20

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Martha M. Pacold: Telephone status hearing held on 1/6/2026 and continued to 1/27/2026 at 9:20 a.m. To join the telephone hearing please dial 650-479-3207 and enter access code 2310 276 7442#. Press # when prompted for an attendee number. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (lxk, ) (Entered: 01/06/2026)

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

RECAP
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MINUTE entry before the Executive Committee: Case reassigned to the Honorable Martha M. Pacold for all further proceedings pursuant to Rule 13 of the Internal Operating Procedures of this Court (Like Kind Agreement IOP13). Mailed notice (Attachments: # 1 Request for Reassignment) (lj, ) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 29, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:25-cv-15704

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket