The U.S. Department of Education has scrapped decades-old rules that held institutions accountable for unintentional discrimination, even when statistical patterns suggested unequal treatment. The move reverses long-standing policies that addressed disparate impact—cases where policies or practices, though neutral on the surface, disproportionately affected protected groups. Critics argue the change weakens protections for marginalized students, while supporters claim it reduces bureaucratic overreach in education. The decision marks a significant shift in how federal agencies interpret civil rights enforcement in schools and universities.
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 ...
