Feds investigate LA schools for sexual misconduct allegations

The U.S. Department of Education has opened a Title IX investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District over sexual misconduct allegations. The department contends the district is reassigning teachers accused of such misconduct to other schools, instead of removing from their position. But the district told The Center Square Wednesday that "reassignment" means sending the teachers home during the investigations. The Department of Education declined to answer The Center Square's questions about its investigations, but it did say in a press release that LAUSD "appears to be protecting sexual predators at the expense of its students." The department went on to say its Office for Civil Rights is looking into LAUSD for policies that "appear to automatically reassign teachers accused of sexual misconduct with students" to another school. The teachers were reassigned instead of being fired or suspended during an investigation, the department said. According to the department, the sexual misconduct included engaging in exploitative "romantic relationships" with students. The department said OCR will determine whether LAUSD's handling of alleged sexual harassment, including sexual assault, by district teachers, administrators or staff violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Department of Education also said LAUSD's policy was "cemented in an agreement with the teachers' union that appears to guarantee teachers will be reassigned and not terminated or immediately removed" from roles while officials investigate allegations of things such as "sexual harassment of a student, behavior with a student that is motivated by sexual interest, maintaining a sexual or romantic relationship with a student or other minor, creating, selling, or using child pornography, unnecessary physical contact with a student, and failure to report suspected child abuse." The Center Square reached out to LAUSD for comment and was told by a spokesperson who declined to give a name for publication that the district sends teachers being investigated home and does not assign them to another school site. The spokesperson noted the district takes all allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness. "Commentary is circulating insinuating that the District assigns those being investigated for sexual misconduct to other school sites," said the LAUSD spokesperson. "This is not true." According to the LAUSD spokesperson, confusion seems to be over the term "reassignment." "Reassignment typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation," said the LAUSD spokesperson. "Decisions about reassignment are guided first and foremost by the safety of students, staff, and the workplace." After an investigation concludes, the LAUSD spokesperson, "appropriate measures or discipline may be taken, including termination of employment if warranted." Lance Izumi, senior director of the Center for Education at Pasadena-based Pacific Research Institute, has questions about that clarification. "Why would the federal government initiate this type of action against LAUSD if it were over a simple misinterpretation?" Izumi told The Center Square. "That seems to me that, you know, that could have been resolved, you know, in a few minutes as opposed to, you know, going to this point about an investigation." Karen Frost is chair of the Los Angeles County Moms for Liberty chapter. Frost, who attended LAUSD schools, said this news saddens her, but added the district has been "a project in decay and decline and disenfranchisement" for decades. "They have made it their mission, really, to just alienate themselves from parents and student success," Frost told The Center Square. "I think 22% of eighth graders within the LAUSD are reading at grade level, so they're not student-focused or family-focused." In March, the Los Angeles School Board borrowed $250 million to settle claims of sexual abuse. That was in addition to the $500 million that the LAUSD Board of Education approved for borrowing in 2025. Pointing to that news, Frost, whose children don't attend the district's schools, said LAUSD clearly has a problem. "The superintendent is under investigation," said Frost, referring to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho being placed on paid leave during an FBI investigation. "The whole thing is just a mess, and I, for one, am very glad that the feds are looking into the school district, and the students in the LAUSD deserve better," Frost told The Center Square. Frost recommended parents talk to their kids about what is going on at their school. Izumi agreed, adding that this is not just a LAUSD or a California problem, but a nationwide problem. "One in 10 kids is targeted for grooming at some point in their K-12 education," said Izumi. "That comes from the U.S. Department of Education, so people should be concerned about this across the country." Izumi said there are highly publicized cases of teachers in other locations, for example, having sexual relations with students. Those make headlines, but Izumi wonders how many cases are not investigated or reported. "And how many of those things just go on year after year, with kids being victimized by adults in the system?" said Izumi.