States sue DOE over race-data mandate
Seventeen state attorneys general are suing the U.S. Department of Education over a rushed requirement for disaggregated admissions data, calling it intrusive and a threat to student privacy. A federal judge blocked immediate enforcement of the rule, creating legal uncertainty for campus reporting this admissions cycle.
Seventeen state attorneys general — led publicly by Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell — filed the federal complaint in Boston on March 11, 2026 challenging the Education Department’s new admissions reporting requirement. mass.gov U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issued a temporary restraining order on March 13, 2026 that paused immediate enforcement and extended the Education Department’s original reporting deadline through March 25, 2026. usnews.com The Department added an Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) to the IPEDS collection after OMB approval, opening the ACTS window on December 18, 2025 and initially setting the close date for March 18, 2026, with the survey asking institutions to report seven academic years (2019–20 through 2025–26). airweb.org The ACTS mandate targets four‑year institutions and asks for applicant/admit/enrollment data disaggregated by race and sex plus standardized test scores, GPA, family income and financial‑aid awards — data points the Department says will detect race‑based consideration. highereddive.com The states’ complaint argues the Department bypassed required Administrative Procedure Act processes, labels the rule “arbitrary and capricious,” and warns the granular, retroactive reporting could jeopardize student privacy and expose colleges to baseless investigations; the suit seeks a declaration the rule is unlawful and a court order blocking it. mass.gov
