“Our schools must protect America’s children. Parents should never have to wonder whether their kids’ school employs and protects sexual predators.”
The Trump administration is launching a nationwide effort to crack down on schools accused of failing to properly address sexual abuse and harassment by educators, with California being one of the largest culprits.
According to a report by the New York Post, Education Secretary Linda McMahon is expected to send letters to school districts across the country reminding them of their obligations under federal law to promptly investigate allegations of sexual abuse and harassment involving school employees.
The Department of Education will also open 20 civil rights investigations into school districts whose federal data submissions suggest they may have failed to adequately respond to reports of sexual misconduct.
“Our schools must protect America’s children. Parents should never have to wonder whether their kids’ school employs and protects sexual predators,” said Secretary McMahon in a statement. “Schools that receive federal funding have a duty to protect students, report sexual misconduct honestly, and follow the law. Through this initiative, we are holding school districts accountable because every child deserves to learn in a safe environment free from sexual abuse and harassment.”
California is among the states receiving the heightened scrutiny, with three schools across two districts looking to lose $50 million in Title I funding if it is found that they violated federal law and refuse to comply.
In May, an investigation from ProPublica and KQED found that at least 67 California educators retained their teaching credentials after the school districts had found they sexually harassed students. At least a dozen of those individuals were even able to remain employed in education.
One case cited by federal officials includes a student who complained that a male educator had touched her thigh, stomach, and shoulder. In response, that teacher was merely transferred to another high school. At the new school, more female students accused the same teacher of staring at their breasts and touching their buttocks, to which the teacher simply received counseling and sexual harassment workshops.
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