U.S. Education Department Rolls Back 'Disparate Impact' Rules

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Reuters, the U.S. Education Department on Thursday rescinded multiple “disparate impact” rules that for decades barred policies and practices that, while not intended to discriminate, produced disproportionate harm to certain groups. The department said the rules had impeded schools from dealing with minority students’ behavior issues and had forced educational institutions to “consider race and engage in racial balancing.” Sixty civil rights and education groups said in a statement on Thursday, July 23, that the decision was critical to protecting students from systemic discrimination based on race, color and national origin. Civil rights groups said the rules helped prevent measures such as school closures and discipline policies that appear neutral but could harm or hinder the development of Black, Native American, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander students. Education Department civil rights assistant secretary Craig Trainor said “equality” should not prevent teachers from maintaining classroom and student safety. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April 2025 opposing the “disparate impact” rules and directing federal agencies to stop enforcing them.