Education Department
The Secretary of Education amends the regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VI") to eliminate disparate-impact liability. These amendments bring the U.S. Department of Education's (Department's) regulations in line with Title VI's original public meaning, avoid constitutional concerns, implement changes that are consistent with Executive Order 14281, "Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy," reflect the Department's independent policy determinations, reduce confusion and uncertainty, lower compliance costs for recipients of Federal financial assistance, and serve the public interest. After reviewing the relevant issues, weighing the various factors, and analyzing the pertinent considerations, the Department concludes that these reasons, separately and cumulatively, support eliminating disparate-impact liability from the Department's Title VI regulations.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Education 34 CFR Part 100 RIN1870-AA20 AGENCY: Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education amends the regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”) to eliminate disparate-impact liability. These amendments bring the U.S. Department of Education's (Department's) regulations in line with Title VI's original public meaning, avoid constitutional concerns, implement changes that are consistent with Executive Order 14281 , “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy,” reflect the Department's independent policy determinations, reduce confusion and uncertainty, lower compliance costs for recipients of Federal financial assistance, and serve the public interest. After reviewing the relevant issues, weighing the various factors, and analyzing the pertinent considerations, the Department concludes that these reasons, separately and cumulatively, support eliminating disparate-impact liability from the Department's Title VI regulations. DATES: This final rule is effective on July 24, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Litsakis, Acting Director, Program Legal Group, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 800-421-3481. Email: Maria.Litsakis@ed.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Executive Summary The Department is rescinding portions of its regulations promulgated pursuant to Title VI, 42 U.…
Citation: 91 FR 46733
