Advocates Demand Department of Education Action on Student Sexual Violence
Today Know Your IX, the National Women’s Law Center, and eight other survivor advocacy organizations delivered a letter to the Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kim Richey demanding that the Department of Education fulfill its duties under Title IX by investigating and equitably resolving all sexual violence complaints pending at the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
OCR resolved zero Title IX complaints of sexual harassment or violence in 2025 and has opened fewer than 10 Title IX sexual violence investigations since March 2025.
Emma Grasso Levine, Senior Manager of Title IX Policy and Programs at Know Your IX (a survivor- and youth-led project of Advocates for Youth), issued the following statement:
“The federal government is neglecting survivors of sexual violence, leaving countless young people vulnerable to harassment and abuse. The Department of Education has a duty to protect students and their ability to learn. By allowing Title IX complaints to go unanswered, the Department has shirked that duty in favor of attacking trans students and their equal access to education.
Students deserve so much better. No survivor of sexual violence should wait years for justice or for the accommodations that will allow them to attend class in peace. In the face of President Trump’s anti-student, anti-survivor agenda, we must work harder than ever to foster safe and supportive school environments where all young people can thrive.”
Advocates and student organizers are available for interviews to discuss attacks on Title IX and what they mean for students across the country.
Advocates for Youth is a 501(c)3 organization that champions efforts that help young people make informed decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates for Youth boldly advocates for a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health, focusing its work on young people ages 14-24 in the U.S. and around the globe.
For Immediate Release: February 23, 2026
Contact: Eleanor Naiman, [email protected]