WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education has eliminated a federal requirement that states conduct separate civil rights compliance reviews of career and technical education programs, reducing administrative oversight while leaving existing anti-discrimination laws and enforcement powers intact.
The final rule removes the Methods of Administration program from regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The program, established in 1979, required states to conduct compliance reviews focused specifically on career and technical education, or CTE, programs.
State agencies may continue performing those reviews voluntarily, but the department will no longer require them.
The department characterized the mandate as duplicative of the Office for Civil Rights’ existing compliance and enforcement structure. It also argued that there is insufficient recent evidence showing CTE programs are more likely to violate civil rights laws than other education programs.
The change rescinds Appendix B to Title 34, Part 100 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which governed the Methods of Administration program.
Institutions receiving federal financial assistance remain subject to federal civil rights laws, including Title VI. The department stated that the rule does not alter the substantive obligations of CTE programs or the Office for Civil Rights’ authority to investigate complaints and enforce compliance.
“For too long, the Department has imposed burdensome and proactive compliance requirements on CTE programs that are duplicative of OCR’s existing compliance structure,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated.
Richey argued that ending the separate review mandate would allow state agencies and schools to redirect resources toward students while preserving federal civil rights protections.
Students, parents and advocates who believe they have experienced discrimination or retaliation may file a complaint through the Office for Civil Rights at https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/file-complaint.
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