politics
Federal officials advise school districts on sexual misconduct cases
The U.S. Department of Education sent letters to multiple school districts, including two in California, directing them to investigate sexual abuse and harassment claims and prevent accused staff from transferring to other schools. Districts that fail to comply risk losing federal funding.
Jul 10, 3:30 PM·1m read1 source
New York PostAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Federal officials have notified several school districts that they must promptly investigate allegations of sexual abuse and harassment and stop the practice of allowing accused staff to move to other schools without resolution. Tulare City Unified School District and Wilsona School District in California received the letters.
Officials stated that districts receiving federal funds have a duty to protect students and report misconduct.
California districts under review Los Angeles Unified School District has already faced prior federal scrutiny over policies that allowed teachers accused of serious misconduct to be reassigned during investigations rather than removed from student contact. All three California districts could lose up to $50 million in federal funding if violations are confirmed.
Other states flagged Districts in Georgia, Michigan, and additional states also received notices. One cited case involved a teacher transferred after a student reported inappropriate touching; the teacher later faced similar accusations at the new school but received only counseling.
The Education Department plans to increase oversight of state compliance with Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, focusing on districts whose data reports appear inconsistent with evidence of misconduct. A spokeswoman for Los Angeles Unified previously stated the district follows Title IX procedures and takes all allegations seriously.
