Owasso Public Schools Agrees to Implement Safety Measures After Reported Inaction
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Wednesday that Owasso Public Schools in Oklahoma has agreed to address multiple Title IX violations related to sexual harassment following the February death of LGBTQ+ student Nex Benedict. The federal investigation found that the district, which has faced national scrutiny, repeatedly failed to protect students from discrimination and harassment.
The OCR’s inquiry, which began in March, identified numerous instances over a three-year period in which Owasso Public Schools staff were informed of possible sexual harassment but failed to explain the Title IX complaint process to students or promptly reach out to complainants.
Among the documented cases, students reportedly faced repeated incidents of sex-based slurs, harassment, and physical assault. Specific allegations included a male student hitting and making unwanted sexual comments to a female sixth-grade student, an elementary school student enduring ongoing harassment described as sexual, and a teacher accused of grooming female students on social media, with over 130 messages sent regarding their appearance and requests for photos.
The OCR report also highlighted that LGBTQ+ students in the district were subject to slurs and other bullying behaviors. In the last three school years, the district conducted only two formal Title IX investigations and provided “limited records” on those cases, according to the OCR.
OCR’s statement read, “As a result, OCR found that the district’s pattern of inconsistent responses to reports it received of sexual harassment – infrequently responding under Title IX or not responding at all – rose to the level that the district’s response to some families’ sexual harassment reports was deliberately indifferent to students’ civil rights.”Owasso Public Schools has agreed with the OCR to implement corrective measures, which include improvements to the district’s Title IX procedures and greater efforts to ensure a safe environment for all students, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Owasso Public Schools spokesperson Jordan Korphage claimed in an email to USA Today that the district had “cooperated fully” with the OCR investigation and “We are confident that these steps will enhance the safety and inclusivity of our school community.”
