U.S. Department of Education opening probe into Owasso Public Schools over Benedict case

Written By: John Dobberstein

(OKLAHOMA) The U.S. Department is opening an investigation into Owasso Public Schools due to a complaint filed by the Human Rights Campaign concerning last month’s death of nonbinary high school student Nex Benedict. 

Read this story on the Broken Arrow Sentinel here. 

In a letter Friday to HRC Director Kelley Robinson, the USDOE said its Office for Civil Rights is opening “the following issues” for investigation — the first being whether the district “failed to appropriately respond to alleged harassment of students in a manner consistent with the requirements of Title IX.”

The second issue is whether OPS “failed to appropriately respond to alleged harassment of students in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 504 and Title II.”

The HRC alleged that OPS discriminated against students by failing to respond appropriately to sex-based harassment, of which it had notice, at Owasso High School during the 2023-2024 school year.

Benedict’s death, which occurred the day after getting into a fight with fellow students in a school bathroom, has been an emotional flashpoint. The Owasso Police Department conducted its own investigation, taking the rare steps during its ongoing investigation in releasing high school surveillance footage and interviews with Benedict and releasing preliminary autopsy results. 

The autopsy, according to police, did not indicate Benedict died as a result of foul play or injuries sustained in the fight. But many others continue to be skeptical and are pointing fingers at the school district. There were several candlelight vigils held to honor Benedict and a school walkout occurred this past week.

The Education Deportment said the OCR will be, “a neutral fact-finder, collecting and analyzing relevant evidence from (HCR), the District, and other sources, as appropriate.”

HRC, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, sent letters to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona calling on their respective departments to launch investigations into the circumstances of Benedict’s death. 

The letters from Robinson said the two departments have enforcement mechanisms needed to prevent similar tragedies from taking place “and to help hold accountable those responsible for Nex’s tragic death.”

The full text of the letter to Attorney General Garland can be found here. The full text of the letter to Secretary Cardona can be found here.