A long-standing federal policy that held schools accountable for unintentional discrimination in disciplinary practices has been scrapped by the U.S. Department of Education. The move reverses decades-old regulations that allowed legal challenges when statistical data revealed disproportionate effects on certain student groups. Critics argue the change weakens protections against systemic bias in school policies, while supporters claim it reduces burdensome legal risks for educators. The decision marks a significant shift in how educational equity is enforced 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 effect of a school policy on discipline rates or other ...
