Apple is now requiring that customers in the United States verify that they’re active students, teachers, or staff members at an educational institution in order to access education discounts on products.
Previously, little verification was needed for customers to purchase products through Apple’s education store in the United States. Apple’s education stores offer models of the iPad and Mac at reduced price points, making them more affordable to students, teachers, and staff who will use them for education purposes.
As the store was accessible to all, some customers may have used it even if they weren’t an education customer, which likely led Apple to implement tighter rules for its U.S. store.
Read more at MacRumors.com