The U.S. Department of Education has rolled back decades-old rules that held institutions accountable for unintentional discrimination, even when statistical patterns suggested bias. The move reverses protections tied to "disparate impact," a legal concept allowing challenges to policies that disproportionately affect certain groups. Critics argue the change weakens safeguards against systemic inequities in education, while supporters claim it reduces regulatory burdens. The decision marks a significant shift in how discrimination cases may be evaluated under federal oversight.
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 ...
