The El Monte Union High School District has agreed to implement wide-ranging reforms to settle allegations of abuse of students.
An investigation found that El Monte Union High School District mishandled abuse claims against staff members for years. This video was broadcast on Today in LA on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The El Monte Union High School District has agreed to implement wide-ranging reforms to settle allegations of sexual harassment, assault and abuse of students that were documented on the district's campuses over a six year period, officials announced Friday.
Following an 18-month investigation, the California Department of Justice found the district"systemically violated laws and regulations'' and frequently"failed to provide a legally adequate response" to reports of abuse, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.In a statement included in a press release from Bonta's office, El Monte Union High School Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said the district had committed to"enhanced protocols, increased transparency and expanded training for staff, students and families" in order"to protect every student and ensure they feel supported, valued and ready to learn." "At El Monte Union High School District, student safety and well-being remain our highest priorities," he said. In its probe, the DOJ interviewed 26 school administrators, staff, former students and other witnesses, and reviewed 113 complaints, authorities said.Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.Findings included reports of a teacher's sexual misconduct with students, spanning years, in which the district failed to conduct an investigation, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. More than a year later, new allegations surfaced about the same teacher engaging in additional sexual misconduct, investigators found. In another example, during the 2023-24 academic year, the district received notice of allegations that a student brandished a knife and sexually assaulted a female student. The district never discussed supportive measures or the formal complaint process with the student, and never conducted an investigation as required by federal law, according to the complaint. In many cases, investigators found that administrators had not complied with laws and regulations that require an adequate response to complaints or that it failed to properly create, maintain and retain records of sexual harassment, assault or abuse complaints, Bonta said. The stipulated settlement between the DOJ and the district requires, among other things, the designation of a new DOJ-approved compliance coordinator to investigate and resolve complaints; the creation of a central computer system for all oral and written complaints and accompanying documents; the development of a complete list of substitutes who cannot be re-hired; and new rules and regulations to ensure compliance with state and federal law. The school district also agreed to provide the DOJ with sexual harassment, assault and abuse complaints, and the district's response, in order to ensure legal compliance. Mental health services will also be provided to complainants, the agreement states. Bonta told reporters Friday he was"hopeful that the district will move swiftly to implement these reforms, that it will work overtime to turn these reforms into a reality as soon as possible. You can be sure that my office will be monitoring closely to ensure that it does."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Live Science Today: Monte Verde controversy and heatwave lashes the WestBen Turner is a U.K. based writer and editor at Live Science. He covers physics and astronomy, tech and climate change. He graduated from University College London with a degree in particle physics before training as a journalist. When he's not writing, Ben enjoys reading literature, playing the guitar and embarrassing himself with chess.
Read more »
El Monte high school district enters settlement to end ‘systemic shortfalls’ in sex-abuse casesThe California Attorney General’s office found the district consistently mishandled student reports of sexual harassment, assault and abuse from 2018 to Fall 2025.
Read more »
El Monte school districtThe most important stories for you to know today
Read more »
CA finds ‘systemic’ failures in how El Monte Unified School district handles sex abuse allegationsCalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization dedicated to serving the state of California.
Read more »
California AG announces sweeping settlement with El Monte HS District after decades of student abuseThe agreement requires wide-ranging reforms after a state investigation found years of sexual misconduct by faculty and staff.
Read more »
California settles with El Monte schools over misconduct complaintsBusiness Insider tells the global tech, finance, stock market, media, economy, lifestyle, real estate, AI and innovative stories you want to know.
Read more »