Trump Administration Launches Second Investigation into Denver Public Schools Over Teacher Allegations The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday that it is investigating Denver Public Schools (DPS) for the second time in less than two years after a French teacher was accused of making female students kiss each other during class. The probe centers on whether the incident, which occurred at Northeast Early College, violated federal laws protecting parental rights and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. DPS, the state’s largest K-12 system, fired the teacher, Jennifer Honka, earlier this year following student allegations that she compelled them to participate in skits involving sexualized conduct and shared what a judge described as “sensitive and potentially traumatizing information” in class. A judge ruled in April that DPS had sufficient evidence to terminate Honka’s employment for cause. DPS district spokesman Scott Pribble stated the district received notice of the investigation on Tuesday and declined to comment on the allegations, emphasizing the district’s commitment to student safety and well-being. He noted that after learning of student concerns in March 2025, DPS placed Honka on administrative leave and conducted a thorough investigation. The Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office is examining whether the incident violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which allows parents to opt out of surveys asking students about sensitive family information. Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Rights is assessing whether the case breaches Title IX, which prohibits gender-based discrimination in education.#trump_administration #denver_public_schools #jennifer_honka #scott_pribble #kimberly_richey
U.S. Department of Education Investigates Denver Public Schools Over Alleged Classroom Assignment Involving Homosexual Acts The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into Denver Public Schools (DPS) following allegations that a teacher required students of the same sex to engage in a kissing exercise as part of a classroom assignment. The probe, which centers on incidents involving a French language instructor, includes scrutiny of whether parents were notified about the evaluation of sensitive student behavior and whether DPS adhered to Title IX requirements. The investigation follows a district investigation and an independent review that led to the firing of Jennifer Honka, a foreign language teacher, in May 2024. Honka, 50, taught French Language and Culture at Northeast Early College for eight years before her termination. DPS officials cited her dismissal as stemming from incompetence and neglect of duty, though the independent review revealed that students had complained about skits in her class where they were asked to kiss one another. The review, released on April 30, confirmed that the students involved in these skits were always of the same sex. One student testified that Honka consistently selected girls for the roles, despite a nearly equal gender split in the class. This student, who refused to participate, received a zero grade for the assignment. Another student reported walking out of the class during the activity. The independent review also highlighted concerns about the lack of parental notification. The Department of Education emphasized that parents are legally entitled to be informed if their children will be evaluated on sensitive topics related to sexual behavior or attitudes.#title_ix #us_department_of_education #denver_public_schools #jennifer_honka #denver_classroom_teachers_association
