The U.S. Department of Education has scrapped decades-old regulations that held institutions accountable for discrimination when statistical patterns revealed unequal treatment, even without proof of intentional bias. The move reverses long-standing policies that allowed federal agencies to challenge practices—such as admissions or hiring—where data showed disproportionate harm to protected groups. Critics argue the change weakens protections under civil rights laws, while supporters claim it reduces bureaucratic overreach in enforcement. Legal experts warn the shift could reshape how discrimination cases are evaluated in education and beyond.
The U.S. Department of Education on Thursday eliminated regulations going back more than 60 years that recognized liability for disparate impact, such as when statistics demonstrate a discriminatory ...
