Education Department removes antidiscrimination rule

The Education Department has scrapped a decades-old policy that allowed statistical disparities to indicate discrimination in schools during civil rights probes. This move immediately nullifies guidance from 1979 that permitted the Office for Civil Rights to consider data showing disproportionate student outcomes. Critics argue this change could weaken protections for marginalized groups, while supporters claim it simplifies the investigation process. The decision sparks debate on the balance between data-driven and subjective approaches in addressing educational inequities.