Education Secretary Pledges Crackdown On Teacher Sexual Misconduct In Schools
Education Secretary Linda McMahon told CNN on Sunday, August 23, 2026, that the federal government will crack down on sexual misconduct by school staff.[1]
McMahon said districts often reassign teachers accused of misconduct instead of firing them, and she pledged the Education Department will work to stop those moves from escaping official records.[1] She pointed to a May 2026 Title IX investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District.[1] She also cited reporting that at least 67 California educators found to have committed sexual misconduct between 2019 and 2025 were not stripped of their licenses.[1]
In May 2026 the Education Department opened a Title IX probe of the Los Angeles Unified School District after reporting raised questions about how districts handle accused staff.[1] A department study found about one in 10 students in grades 8-11 reported educator sexual misconduct under a broad definition that includes physical, verbal and visual behavior.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday, August 23, 2026, Education Secretary Linda McMahon told CNN the federal government is committed to cracking down on sexual misconduct by school staff.
- McMahon criticized districts for reassigning teachers accused of misconduct instead of firing them and said her department is working to stop such practices from escaping official records.
- She pointed to a May 2026 Title IX investigation into Los Angeles Unified School District and to reports that at least 67 California educators found to have committed sexual misconduct between 2019 and 2025 were not stripped of their licenses.
- McMahon cited Education Department research indicating about one in 10 students in grades 8–11 reported educator sexual misconduct under a broad definition that includes physical, verbal and visual behavior.
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