San Diego School District Mismanaged Sexual Harassment Complaints

The U.S. Department of Education has found that the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) failed to adequately respond to 253 reports of sexual harassment and assault, particularly with nearly 40% of these allegations arising from elementary schools. The investigation revealed systemic failures to comply with Title IX regulations, including lack of equitable responses to complaints and insufficient training for staff and students. In response, SDUSD has entered into an agreement with federal officials to implement significant reforms, such as reviewing past complaints and providing annual training on recognizing and reporting harassment. These changes aim to enhance the district's handling of sexual harassment cases and ensure a safer educational environment for all students. The failures documented in the investigation occurred during the tenure of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten as superintendent of SDUSD, raising concerns about the district's commitment to student safety. Federal officials emphasized that these shortcomings left students vulnerable to ongoing harassment, violating their rights under Title IX.