A new rule allowing community college officials in North Carolina to deny admission to students who pose a threat to school safety has disability advocates crying foul.

Under the rule approved last week by the North Carolina Community College Board, the state’s 58 community colleges would have discretion to decline applicants who may present a safety risk. The policy could take effect as early as April 1.

Since federal law disallows questions about disability status in application procedures, disability and civil rights advocates are questioning how schools could follow through on the new policy without violating applicants’ rights.

What’s more, they say the new rule opens the door for students with special needs to be discriminated against since the policy is vague and school administrators may not be well-qualified to determine whether a person’s disability means they pose a risk, reports The (Chapel Hill, N.C.) Daily Tar Heel. To read more click here.

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