The U.S. Department of Education rescinded disparate impact regulations used to investigate policies that have discriminatory effects, even without proof of intent. The Office for Civil Rights will no longer use the disparate impact enforcement mechanism under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The department said the change reduces “confusion and uncertainty” and avoids constitutional tension, while civil rights and education groups warned it will weaken protections for Black, Latino, Asian American, Native American, and other students of color. Districts and institutions receiving federal funds may need to revisit civil-rights compliance procedures that were built around statistical-effect standards. In parallel, leaders such as the National School Boards Association said the rescission does not supersede state laws or constitutional duties, shifting the center of gravity to state and local civil-rights enforcement. The change also arrives amid broader federal scrutiny of admissions and institutional practices. For higher education, the practical impact will likely show up in how universities handle discipline, access, and program outcomes when federal civil-rights investigations are threatened—particularly for student conduct and student success initiatives tied to federal funding.