California Settles with El Monte School District Over Mishandling of Sexual Misconduct Complaints

The district must appoint a compliance coordinator and roll out an electronic complaint system as part of the settlement.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:59pm

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The California Attorney General's office has reached a settlement with the El Monte Union High School District following an investigation into the district's mishandling of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse complaints from students. The settlement requires the district to implement a four-year corrective plan, including appointing a state-approved compliance coordinator, rolling out a centralized electronic complaint system, and expanding access to education and mental health services for those who report misconduct.

Why it matters

The settlement aims to address longstanding issues with how the district has handled sexual misconduct complaints, which came to light in a 2023 Business Insider investigation. The corrective measures are intended to create a safer and more supportive learning environment for students in the district.

The details

The state investigation examined conduct at the district from 2018 through fall 2025, reviewing over 88,000 documents and 200,000 emails, as well as interviewing 26 administrators, staff, former students, and other witnesses. As part of the settlement, the district must maintain a list of substitute teachers barred from reappointment following sustained findings of sexual harassment.

  • The state opened an investigation into the district in 2024.
  • Business Insider published an investigation into allegations of misconduct at Rosemead High, a school in the district, in 2023.
  • The settlement was announced on March 21, 2026.

The players

Rob Bonta

The California Attorney General who announced the settlement.

Edward Zuniga

The El Monte Union High School Superintendent, who stated the district's commitment to strengthening systems that support safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments.

El Monte Union High School District

The school district that serves roughly 9,500 students across eight campuses and was involved in the misconduct investigation and settlement.

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What they’re saying

“Every child deserves to learn and grow in a safe and supportive school environment. Today's settlement marks a beginning, not an end.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

“At El Monte Union High School District, student safety and well-being remain our highest priorities. This agreement reflects our continued commitment to strengthening systems that support safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments.”

— Edward Zuniga, El Monte Union High School Superintendent

What’s next

The California Department of Justice and the El Monte Union High School District will implement a four-year corrective plan to address the mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints, and the state will closely monitor the district's compliance with the settlement.

The takeaway

This settlement highlights the importance of addressing systemic issues in how school districts handle sexual misconduct complaints, in order to create safer and more supportive learning environments for students. The corrective measures required of the El Monte Union High School District, including the appointment of a compliance coordinator and the implementation of an electronic complaint system, aim to improve accountability and transparency around these critical issues.