DiZoglio: Mass. failed to investigate teacher misconduct, protect LGBTQ students
Officials at the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education failed to properly investigate claims of child abuse and neglect by “licensed educators,” a new report by state Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office has concluded.
As a result, “individuals who pose a risk to student safety could remain in classrooms or educational settings without appropriate review or disciplinary action,” DiZoglio’s office said in a statement.
“Every child deserves a strong start and a fair chance at success,” DiZoglio said in a statement.
“That opportunity has been put at risk due to several issues that require urgent and consistent attention at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,” she continued. “Each day these challenges go unaddressed is another day a student may miss out on the supports they need to be able to reach their highest potential.”
The new report, which reviewed the period between July 1, 2021, and July 30, 2023, also found that the agency did not investigate and resolve special education complaints within the 60-day window required by federal law.
The probe by the Methuen Democrat’s office further found that the agency violated an agreement with the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth by, among other things, failing to issue a mandated annual communication with school leaders aimed at creating safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ students.
Among the other top-line findings:
The agency’s delays in investigating special education complaints prevented students from receiving the support and services they’re entitled to under federal law. And those actions “can also leave families feeling frustrated and unheard,” which erodes trust in the agency.
The audit also found that the agency didn’t implement timely corrective action plans for special education students. When that happens, “students may continue to experience delays or gaps in receiving special education services,” DiZoglio’s office said, adding that “can negatively impact educational progress and deny students the remedies they need for previously identified areas of noncompliance.”
The agency’s failures on services for LGBTQ students “[reduced] the effectiveness of efforts to create safe and supportive school environments and increase the risk that LGBTQ students do not receive adequate protections and support.”
In a statement, Shaplaie Brooks, the executive director of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, said her agency was “committed to continuing our collaboration with DESE and we remain hopeful regarding their continued support for the commission, their ongoing efforts to promote and ensure inclusive professional development for their districts, and most importantly, their commitment to ensure that all students across the Commonwealth have access to inclusive and intersectional education that is accurate and equitable.”
The audit also found that the state regulators failed to ensure that charter school trustees signed conflict-of-interest forms and submitted the necessary financial disclosure forms.
When that happens, “there is an increased risk that potential or actual conflicts of interest may go undetected and unaddressed, influencing decision-making in ways that are not in the best interest of students, families, or the public,” auditors concluded.
State education officials already have begun to address the shortcomings identified in DiZoglio’s report.
In a statement to WBUR , the agency said it is “committed to making schools safe and welcoming spaces for all students.”
“The department has addressed the findings in the auditor’s report and will continue to look for ways to improve,” a DESE spokesperson told the station.
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