Michael Pillera

The U.S. Department of Education announced regulatory changes that prohibit using demographic data like discipline rates or school admissions to investigate racial discrimination in schools. Critics argue this removes a key tool for identifying systemic bias, while the Trump administration claims prior data use was improper. The change aligns with broader efforts to eliminate disparate impact regulations.

The U.S. Education Department will no longer enforce disparate impact rules for assessing school discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, requiring intentional discrimination to be considered unlawful. The change, effective immediately without public comment, has drawn criticism from civil rights groups who argue it weakens protections against systemic racial disparities in school discipline.

The U.S. Department of Education has rescinded a rule that allowed consideration of school policies disproportionately harming students based on race or national origin unless the discrimination was intentional. This change affects Title VI of the Civil Rights Act enforcement, particularly school discipline practices where Black students are more likely to face punitive measures. Civil rights groups criticized the move, arguing it weakens protections against systemic discrimination.

The Trump administration's Education Department is shifting away from addressing civil rights for Black students by framing equity programs as discriminatory. Schools implementing initiatives to address racial disparities face funding threats, with examples including the Black Student Success Program in Chicago and the Black Student Achievement Plan in Los Angeles. Civil rights advocates argue this approach reverses historical efforts to combat systemic discrimination.