The U.S. Department of Education has opened investigations into multiple school districts nationwide over alleged sexual misconduct by staff against students.
The Office for Civil Rights will examine each district’s handling of alleged sexual harassment and assault by teachers, administrators and other personnel, violating Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the department said Tuesday.
The probes follow a July initiative targeting sexual predators in K‑12 schools and focus on the “Pass the Trash” practice, where accused staff are quietly transferred to other districts.
OCR has launched a direct probe into the New York City Department of Education for an alleged systemic pattern of enabling abuse, citing nearly 2,000 complaints filed under the state’s Child Victims Act.
The department said schools allegedly let accused staff resign without punishment or remain employed after settlements, a practice described as chilling.
NYC officials claim on its website that it maintains a harassment‑free environment and complies with Title IX.
Under its Title IX process, a coordinator may file a complaint when notified of misconduct and an investigator must complete the review within 165 school days.
OCR is also probing districts in California, Georgia, North Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Virginia for alleged failures to respond to misconduct reports.
Allegations include a coach groping female athletes, a teacher touching elementary girls and a staff member grooming a middle school student, the department said.
A September 2026 OCR report shows that during the 2023‑2024 school year districts recorded about 11,800 incidents of rape or attempted rape and sexual assault other than rape.
Roughly 460 of those incidents, or 4% of the total, were committed by school staff, the report found.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon reminded schools in a July guidance letter of their legal duty to protect students and act promptly on misconduct allegations.
She cited a 2003 study indicating 9.6% of grades eight to eleven students reported educator‑involved sexual misconduct.
McMahon said, “Through this initiative we hold districts accountable because every child deserves a safe learning environment free from sexual abuse and harassment.”
School Abuse and ED Action
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey added, “Sexual misconduct by adults entrusted with students’ care is insidious, and schools must protect students and respond appropriately.”
