The U.S. Department of Education has scrapped decades-old rules that allowed for legal accountability in cases where statistical patterns revealed discriminatory practices, even if intentional bias wasn’t proven. The move reverses long-standing policies that held institutions accountable for unintended but harmful disparities in access or treatment. Critics argue the change weakens protections for marginalized groups, while supporters say it reduces burdensome legal risks for schools and programs. The decision marks a significant shift in how discrimination claims are evaluated under federal education law.
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 ...
