On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education informed Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson responds to HRC's letter regarding Owasso Public Schools and its failure to adequately respond to sexual harassment that may have contributed to the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict. , the ministry announced that it would launch an investigation. A non-binary teenager of Choctaw descent.
The investigation began after Robinson filed a formal complaint last week. I have written We have informed Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging the department to use the enforcement mechanisms at its disposal to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future and to hold accountable those responsible for Benedict's death. .
of letter A report from the Department of Education states: “The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun an investigation into the above complaint you filed against Owasso Public Schools (School District). “We allege that Owasso High School discriminated against students by failing to adequately respond to reported sexual harassment at Owasso High School during the 2023-2024 school year,” Robinson said.
“The Nex family, community, and the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex+) community in Oklahoma continue to respond in the wake of their tragic loss. We are grateful that the Department of Education has responded to our complaints and launched an investigation. Justice will be served for Nex and all students at Owasso High School and all Oklahoma schools will be free from bullying and harassment. We need the Department of Education to act urgently to protect us from harassment and discrimination,” Robinson added.
According to the letter, OCR will investigate the following issues:
- Whether the school district failed to respond appropriately to the alleged harassment of the student consistent with the requirements of Title IX.
- Whether the school district failed to adequately respond to allegations of student harassment in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 504 and Title II.
HRC sent second message letter to department They called for an immediate investigation into the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the current state education superintendent, Ryan Walters. In addition:
- robinson I have written Attorney General Merrick Garland asked the Justice Department to open an investigation into Nex's death.
- Robinson wrote a letter to Dr. Margaret Coates, Superintendent of Owasso School District, Oklahoma, urges superintendents to take advantage of HRC's Welcoming Schools Program, the nation's most comprehensive anti-bias bullying program with LGBTQ and gender-inclusive training and resources. and offered to bring an expert to the school. Head to the district immediately.
The full text of the Department of Education's letter to HRC can be found here. here.
The full text of Robinson's first letter to Cardona can be found here. here.
