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The U.S. Department of Education says it has opened sexual misconduct investigations involving school districts in multiple states as part of a national effort targeting the alleged practice of “passing the trash.” Its Office for Civil Rights cited The 74’s investigation of New York Child Victims Act cases, but has not publicly detailed the allegations or scope of each district inquiry.
The U.S. Department of Education has opened sexual misconduct investigations involving school districts in multiple states, describing the inquiries as part of a broader effort against “passing the trash” — when school employees accused of abuse are allowed to resign or move to another school system. The department cited The 74’s reporting on allegations in New York schools, while details about the individual investigations remain limited.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said it is investigating the New York City Department of Education and Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado, as well as districts in California, Georgia, North Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Virginia. The announcement did not identify every district under investigation or provide a public account of the specific conduct being examined in each case.
In explaining the New York focus, OCR referred to The 74’s examination of claims filed under the state’s Child Victims Act. The outlet said it spent more than two years reviewing cases filed across all 62 counties and identified at least 1,973 complaints naming a school. The 74 reported that those complaints represented more than 18% of all cases filed under the law. The complaints contain allegations; their filing does not by itself establish that abuse occurred or that a school knew about it.
The federal statement said some New York City educators named in complaints allegedly remained employed after settlements. That appears to refer to separate reporting by City & State, which reported that the city had paid more than $160 million to settle over 150 Child Victims Act cases as of October 2024, and that some educators named in school-related cases continued teaching. A settlement is not, on its own, a finding of liability or proof of an individual’s conduct.
Federal Scrutiny Reaches Multiple Districts
The investigations put district handling of abuse allegations under federal scrutiny, including whether schools responded to reports and whether accused employees were able to remain in education or move between institutions. The department has framed the effort around preventing staff accused of sexual misconduct from escaping accountability through quiet departures or transfers.
For students and families, the inquiries could clarify how districts respond when abuse is reported and what safeguards exist to keep students safe. For school systems, the announcement signals potential federal review, but it does not establish that any named district violated federal law. The department has not said what corrective action, if any, it may seek, or when the investigations might conclude.
The announcement also highlights how journalism can inform government oversight: OCR expressly cited The 74’s New York investigation when describing the scale of complaints. The reporting gives context to the agency’s stated concerns, while the underlying allegations and the federal inquiry remain matters requiring independent review.
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The Act Behind New York’s Complaints
New York’s 2019 Child Victims Act expanded the opportunity for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring claims against alleged abusers and institutions accused of protecting them. The 74 reviewed cases filed under the law, including allegations involving public, private, residential and religious schools. Its tally counts complaints that name a school; it is not a count of findings that schools or named individuals committed wrongdoing.
The federal announcement follows a national K-12 initiative launched by the Trump administration in July, which it described as a crackdown on sexual predators in schools. The department said the effort addresses cases in which schools allegedly failed to investigate credible abuse reports or allowed accused staff to change roles or transfer. The current announcement names districts across several states, but the department has not publicly connected every inquiry to a specific reported incident.
The department’s action comes amid wider changes to its civil rights work. The supplied reporting cites a Government Accountability Office report saying the department dismissed 90% of the complaints it received, including complaints alleging sexual assault, after OCR was substantially reduced. It also notes that the administration has prioritized other categories of civil rights investigations and reversed a Biden-era Title IX rule that extended protections against sexual harassment and assault to LGBTQ students. Those developments provide institutional context, but do not establish the outcome or merits of the newly announced district investigations.
“According to reporting, nearly two thousand complaints filed under the state’s Child Victims Act accuse a school, educator, or staff member of sexual abuse.”
— U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
Investigation Details Still Limited
The department has not released a full list of districts under investigation, the evidence it is reviewing in each case, or the specific laws or policies at issue. It is also unclear whether the inquiries concern particular incidents, district-wide procedures, employment decisions, or some combination of those issues.
The announcement does not say how long the investigations are expected to take, whether OCR has reached preliminary findings, or what consequences could follow. The underlying Child Victims Act filings are allegations, and neither the number of complaints nor a settlement establishes that a named educator or institution committed misconduct. The department’s inquiry may assess district conduct, but its eventual findings are not yet known.
Federal Reviews Await Findings
OCR is expected to continue its investigations and gather information from the districts it is reviewing. The department has not announced a timetable for findings or said whether it will publish updates as the work proceeds. Any later findings or agreements could shed light on whether districts must change policies, address staff conduct, or take other corrective steps.
For now, readers should distinguish the announced federal inquiries from conclusions about individual allegations. Further detail from the department, the districts, or subsequent reporting will be needed to establish the scope of each case and what action, if any, follows.
Key Questions
Which school districts are being investigated?
The Education Department named the New York City Department of Education and Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado, along with districts in California, Georgia, North Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Virginia. It has not published a complete list identifying every district.
What does “passing the trash” mean?
The department uses the phrase for the alleged practice of allowing school employees accused of sexually abusing students to resign or move to another school system, potentially avoiding accountability and creating risks for other students.
What did The 74 report about New York schools?
The 74 said its review found at least 1,973 Child Victims Act complaints naming a school across New York’s 62 counties. Those are allegations in filed complaints, not a count of proven cases.
Have the investigations found that districts broke the law?
No findings were provided in the announcement. The department said investigations had been opened, but has not published evidence, conclusions, or a timetable for deciding whether any district violated federal requirements.
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