The Department of Education opened a directed investigation under Title IX into the Los Angeles Unified School District on Tuesday, alleging that the district’s policies “automatically” reassign teachers credibly accused of sexual misconduct rather than removing them while inquiries proceed.
The inquiry, conducted by the department’s Office for Civil Rights, centers on a 2024 settlement between the district and its teachers union and could influence how future misconduct claims involving students are handled.
As of May 5, 2026, the investigation was just announced with no findings issued.
The Department stated that the agreement appears to guarantee reassignment rather than termination or immediate removal for teachers credibly accused of conduct including sexual harassment of a student, behavior toward a student motivated by sexual interest, sexual or romantic relationships 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.
Officials noted that these terms may conflict with Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools.
Kimberly Richey, the assistant secretary for civil rights, stated that the district “seems to be putting the continued employment of sexual predators above the safety of students” and called it “unconscionable” that LAUSD would “ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements.” She added that the Trump administration would “always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of all students, and restore common sense to our schools.”
A district spokesperson denied that staff under investigation for sexual misconduct are sent to other school sites. Reassignment, they said, “typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation.” The district maintained it follows Title IX procedures and continuously reviews its training and reporting systems.
United Teachers Los Angeles described the federal accusations as a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the policy, noting that reassigned employees are not placed in classrooms or any setting where they would interact with students.
A 110-page LAUSD protocol states that administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite when there is a risk to student or staff safety and requires contact with law enforcement and teacher licensing agencies.
The federal action occurs amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and the district. The department has separately targeted LAUSD’s desegregation policy and protections for transgender students.
The district has authorized $750 million in bonds to pay settlements tied to a 2019 California law that reopened claims of childhood sex abuse.
The Office for Civil Rights will determine whether the district’s handling of harassment and assault complaints by teachers, administrators, or staff violated Title IX.
No timeline for the inquiry was disclosed.
