Paterson schools failed to protect students from sexual harassment and assault, authorities say • New Jersey Monitor

School officials in Paterson failed to adequately respond to student allegations of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, over a five-year period beginning in 2017, according to a letter the state Department of Education sent Monday to the school district’s superintendent.

Officials in the department’s civil rights office also said that in their review of the district, Paterson school employees reported four cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault between staff and students that the school did not report to the Department of Education as required.

Federal investigators also found that school officials did not maintain proper documentation of internal investigations into these complaints, raising concerns about the way Paterson Public Schools handles reports of sexual harassment and assault.

Now the school district has entered into an agreement agreement with the Department of Education to improve compliance with Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding.

“These multiple failures resulted in the district failing to adequately respond to numerous complaints of sexual harassment, leaving the district’s students vulnerable to school sex discrimination, which Title IX prohibits,” the department said in a statement Monday Explanation.

Paterson is home to the third largest school district in the state with nearly 50 schools and 25,000 students. Paterson officials did not respond to a request for comment.

In a 20-page letter Federal investigators sent to Paterson Schools Superintendent Laurie W. Newell used a handful of examples to criticize the district for failing to properly investigate complaints of sexual harassment and assault.

In one example, a school principal said she was told about a sexual relationship between a teacher and a student. The district fired the teacher but failed to provide evidence that it had conducted an internal investigation into the matter.

In another case, the district said it suspended a student for repeatedly sexually harassing and performing a sexual act on another student, but failed to provide evidence that measures were taken to prevent a repeat of those acts to prevent.

As part of the review, Paterson school officials agreed to adhere to a 15-page compliance agreement. Requirements include:

• Submit annual reports to the Department of Education, including a table of all reports and complaints of sexual harassment and assault and descriptions of support provided to victims.
• Inform all staff, students, and parents of the Title IX policy and explain on the district website how to contact the schools’ Title IX coordinator.
• Starting next school year, conduct an annual survey to assess school climate and use those results to improve policies and training practices.
• Train the Title IX coordinator and ensure they have adequate time for their role. They must also coordinate with other employees regarding monitoring investigation results, record keeping, and addressing patterns of sexual harassment.
• Improve staff training to respond to harassment claims and provide age-appropriate training for students, including on what Title IX means, how to file a complaint, and what supports are available to students.
• Check with the district attorney’s office to determine which crimes must be reported to law enforcement and which are discretionary.
• Review all reported incidents between 2017 and 2024 within 90 days to determine whether further action is necessary.

Federal officials did not say when they expected the agreement to expire, but said it would if officials do not comply, The matter could be referred to the US Department of Justice.