OAN Staff Jenna Lee and Brooke Mallory
6:33 PM – Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched a formal investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to determine if its policies for handling teacher sexual misconduct violate federal law.
This inquiry focuses on a 2024 settlement agreement between the district and United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), which originated from a union grievance filed in late 2023 regarding the reassignment process for accused educators.
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Federal officials expressed concern that the agreement lacks critical safeguards, specifically noting that the terms do not explicitly prohibit these teachers from being placed in “student-facing” roles during the investigation period. Consequently, the Department is examining whether the district’s current protocols fail to provide students with the protections required under Title IX.
“Under Title IX, schools must respond appropriately and address claims of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and assault, in a timely manner, but the district seems to be putting the continued employment of sexual predators above the safety of students,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey in a statement.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 serves as a cornerstone of federal civil rights law, strictly prohibiting any educational program or activity that receives federal funding from discriminating against individuals on the basis of sex.
This mandate extends beyond athletics and admissions to encompass the safety and equitable treatment of all students and staff. To ensure compliance with these protections, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides specific oversight and guidance regarding the administrative actions schools must take when allegations of misconduct arise.
This includes defining the legal standards and conditions under which a school district may reassign or remove staff members to maintain a safe learning environment while an investigation is conducted.
Following the announcement and accompanying press release, the LAUSD pushed back and called the federal accusations “not true.”
“‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation. Decisions about reassignment are guided first and foremost by the safety of students, staff, and the workplace,” the district stated.
“It is unconscionable that the district would simply ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements to protect teachers who cause life-changing harm to their kids,” countered Richey.
While the specific number of educators reassigned under the 2024 settlement remains undisclosed, as do the specific campus locations involved, the implications for the LAUSD are significant.
The federal government’s impending review will focus on whether the district’s internal protocols align with the procedural requirements of Title IX.
Should the investigation reveal that the district failed to uphold these civil rights standards, the consequences could include the loss of essential federal funding or the imposition of mandatory, sweeping policy overhauls to ensure future compliance and student safety.
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