The U.S. Department of Education has scrapped decades-old rules that allowed for legal accountability in cases where statistical data revealed discriminatory practices, even if intentional bias could not be proven. The move reverses long-standing policies that permitted challenges to policies with unequal effects on protected groups, such as in admissions or hiring. Critics argue the change weakens protections against systemic inequities, while supporters claim it reduces burdensome litigation. Legal experts warn the decision could reshape civil rights enforcement 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 ...
