The Trump administration is initiating a nationwide effort to address schools accused of protecting teachers involved in sexual abuse and misconduct, potentially costing California schools up to $50 million in federal funding.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is set to send letters to school districts across the country, reminding them of their legal obligations to thoroughly investigate allegations of sexual abuse and harassment. The administration is also concerned about educators accused of misconduct being allowed to move to other schools, a practice known as "passing the trash."
California is expected to be a significant focus of this initiative. The Education Department plans to launch 20 new civil rights investigations into school districts where federal data suggests a failure to adequately address sexual misconduct by school employees. Officials familiar with the situation indicated that three California schools within two districts could face a loss of nearly $50 million in Title I funding if found in violation of federal law and non-compliant.
This federal action follows a ProPublica and KQED investigation that revealed at least 67 California educators retained their teaching credentials despite school district findings of sexual harassment or other misconduct. At least 12 of these individuals remained employed in education.
Federal officials highlighted cases where teachers accused of misconduct, including inappropriate touching and suggestive comments, received counseling or workshops instead of disciplinary action or removal from classrooms. One documented case involved a teacher who transferred schools after a student complaint, only to face similar accusations from new students at the subsequent school.
McMahon has stated that these cases illustrate a broader national issue where schools may prioritize shielding employees over protecting students, by allowing accused educators to resign quietly, transfer, or find employment elsewhere. The administration views these practices as inconsistent with federal civil rights laws.
The Department of Education is increasing its oversight of state compliance with federal laws, including Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The department will scrutinize school districts whose Civil Rights Data Collection reports appear to contradict evidence of sexual misconduct, particularly those reporting zero incidents despite indications of otherwise.
This move expands on a Title IX investigation opened earlier this year into the Los Angeles Unified School District. That investigation focused on an agreement between the district and the United Teachers Los Angeles union, which allowed teachers accused of serious misconduct to be reassigned during investigations rather than being immediately terminated or removed from student-facing roles. Federal officials argue that collective bargaining agreements should not supersede schools' responsibilities under federal civil rights law to safeguard students.