LSNYC Forces NYC Schools to Change Sexual Harassment Policy

In 2019, Legal Services NYC filed a landmark lawsuit against New York City’s Department of Education (DOE). The suit, brought by four female middle and high school students, alleged that the DOE violated Title IX by repeatedly ignoring their reports of sexual assault and harassment. All four students were girls of color with disabilities —two of whom reported being raped. 

Lawyers from LSNYC engaged the DOE in negotiations, eventually securing a significant settlement. The agreement forced the DOE to make sweeping changes to theschool district’s sexual assault policies, changes that will help thousands of students across the city who are dealing with sexual assault and harassment. The DOE also agreed to pay $700,000 in damages to four student survivors.

“This settlement makes me feel like I was heard,” said one of the students in the case, who, as a minor, remained an anonymous plaintiff. “Because we spoke out, they agreed to make changes within the DOE.”

As part of the settlement, the DOE agreed to make reporting and investigation processes more transparent to students and parents; make it easier for students to report assaults and escalate complaints; train staff on the new policies; and strengthen special education supports for students impacted by sexual assault and trauma. The changes were a landmark step for the DOE in recognizing the impact of trauma on learning and providing students the support necessary to heal.

Legal Services NYC now monitors the DOE’s implementation of its new policies, and has reserved the right to return to court should they fail to comply with the obligations named in the settlement.  

• Read the press release
• Read The74’s article

“I hope that these changes will make the students in the city feel more protected, comfortable, and understood when they go through a situation that impact their life in a negative way. I hope that these policies help them feel they can come forward, speak to an authority about what’s making them uncomfortable, uneasy, or unsafe, and get help for their particular situation.”

Lisa Doe, one of the students in the case

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