The U.S. Department of Education has opened a Title IX investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District following reports that 67 educators accused of sexual misconduct were not stripped of their teaching licenses and were later rehired by other districts.
In a separate development, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the department is cracking down on school districts that reassign, rather than fire, educators accused of misconduct involving students. McMahon made the remarks during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.
Federal Response and Policy Enforcement
The Education Department confirmed it is investigating the Los Angeles Unified School District’s alleged practice of reassigning, rather than terminating, teachers accused of sexual misconduct, including relationships with students and failure to report abuse. A letter from McMahon to educational institutions in July stated that the department can revoke federal funding from schools that do not comply with federal sexual misconduct laws.
McMahon cited a 2004 Education Department literature review indicating that about one in 10 eighth- through 11th-grade students reported sexual misconduct by an educator. The review defined misconduct broadly to include physical, verbal, and visual conduct, noting that it should not be equated with the legal definition of sexual abuse.
State-Level Failures and Rehiring Practices
An investigation by ProPublica and KQED found that California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing did not revoke the licenses of 67 educators accused of sexual misconduct between 2019 and 2025. Of those, at least 14 were later hired by other school districts, with 12 still working in education as of May.
The reporting highlighted cases where educators accused of misconduct were reassigned to other schools without their records reflecting the allegations. The Education Department’s response included launching a nationwide effort to address such practices.
Scope of Misconduct and Legal Definitions
The Education Department’s 2004 review defined sexual misconduct as including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. The review noted that while such behavior may violate school policies, it does not always meet the legal threshold for abuse or criminal prosecution.
McMahon emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting students, stating in a previous statement: “Schools that receive federal funding have a duty to protect students, report sexual misconduct honestly, and follow the law.” The department’s actions follow concerns raised by advocacy groups and lawmakers about systemic failures in addressing educator misconduct.