US Attorney’s Office reaches agreement with Fulton Schools over sexual assault

As part of the settlement, Fulton has agreed to change its reporting policies, provide more extensive training to employees and provide language assistance to parents and guardians with limited English proficiency.

In a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, Fulton County Schools said the district has worked with federal authorities on the policy changes addressed in the settlement and that student safety is a priority.

“The incident that prompted this investigation occurred many years ago,” the statement said. “It does not represent a pattern of similar incidents, and we regularly review FCS policies, procedures and safeguards to continue to strengthen our safety approaches across all educational facilities, including our school buses.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release that it will hold schools accountable for protecting their students. Her office worked with the Educational Opportunity Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate this case.

“Children with disabilities can be particularly vulnerable and deserve to thrive in a learning environment free from violence of any kind, including on the bus ride to school,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement. “We appreciate the school district’s willingness to cooperate with our investigation and resolve this matter amicably to ensure the protection and safety of these children.”