US Education Department Investigates Washington, Colorado School Districts Whether Teacher Forced Same-S*x Kids To Kiss
The US Department of Education has opened a federal investigation into Denver Public Schools after allegations that a high school teacher required same-s*x students to kiss each other during a classroom assignment.
The U.S. Department of Education has launched a federal investigation into Denver Public Schools (DPS) over allegations that a high school teacher required same-sex students to kiss each other during a classroom assignment. The Department's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is examining whether the district violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), while the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is also investigating whether the district's handling of the incident complied with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
The federal investigation stems from allegations involving former French teacher Jennifer Honka at Northeast Early College High School in Denver. According to the Education Department, the teacher allegedly instructed same-sex students to kiss each other in front of the class as part of a French-language skit. The Department said it will investigate whether parents were properly notified if the activity involved sensitive topics covered under federal law and whether parents or students were given the opportunity to opt out. Illinois Teacher Breaks Down After Being Arrested for Raping Minor Student, Claims She Is Targeted for Being ‘Good-Looking’ (Watch Video).
The Office for Civil Rights will separately assess whether Denver Public Schools responded appropriately to the allegations under Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational institutions.
District Investigation Led to Teacher's Dismissal
The allegations first surfaced during the 2023-24 school year, when students complained that classroom skits required them to kiss classmates while performing assigned roles. According to an independent review commissioned during the district's investigation, the students involved were generally girls, and some alleged they feared receiving failing grades if they refused to participate. The classroom scripts reportedly included scenarios titled The Neighbors Saw Everything and The Boring Kiss, the latter involving characters in a dating relationship with multiple scripted kissing scenes.
Following an internal investigation, Denver Public Schools recommended Honka's dismissal. In May, the district's Board of Education unanimously voted to terminate her employment after reviewing findings from an independent administrative review. US Prep School Teacher Sentenced to 15 Years for Having S*x With Student She Was Tutoring at Home.
Teacher Denied Forcing Students
Honka denied forcing students to kiss and told investigators that students who felt uncomfortable could choose alternatives such as blowing a kiss or giving a fist bump instead. She also argued that she had been subjected to discrimination based on her sexual orientation. However, the independent review noted that while Honka had previously filed numerous grievances against the school district in her capacity as a teachers' union representative, none alleged discrimination based on sexual orientation. Before the complaints emerged, Honka had received the district's highest performance ratings for three consecutive years.
Independent Review Supported Termination
Administrative Law Judge Keith J. Kirchubel, who conducted the independent review during Honka's appeal, concluded that the dismissal was justified.
The review stated that regardless of whether students were explicitly forced to kiss, the classroom assignment placed them in a situation where they had to make immediate decisions about participating in a personal and potentially sexualized activity in front of classmates while under the authority of a teacher. The report also found that students had to decide whether they were comfortable refusing a teacher's instructions in a classroom setting.
Police Inquiry Did Not Lead to Charges
After multiple student complaints, Northeast Early College Principal Jen Warren reported the matter to the Denver Police Department in accordance with mandatory child protection reporting requirements. Police reviewed the allegations, but no criminal charges were filed.
Federal Review Focuses on Parental Rights
The Education Department said the Student Privacy Policy Office will determine whether Denver Public Schools complied with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which grants parents specific rights regarding surveys, evaluations and instructional activities involving sensitive subjects.
Investigators will examine whether parents were notified about the classroom activity, whether required consent or opt-out opportunities were provided, and whether any parental or student complaints were properly addressed. Separately, the Office for Civil Rights will determine whether the district fulfilled its obligations under Title IX in responding to the allegations.
Broader Federal Enforcement Effort
The investigation comes as the Education Department has increased its scrutiny of school districts over issues involving parental rights and compliance with federal education laws. In recent months, the department has announced several investigations related to LGBTQ+-related policies and classroom practices as part of its broader enforcement agenda.
The federal investigation into Denver Public Schools remains ongoing, and the Department of Education has not announced a timeline for completing its review or issuing findings.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2026 08:05 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).