NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8.25.25
Contact: Mariah Newell, media@mafamily.org
Direct: 781.569.0400
Federal Department of Education Announces Investigation into Burlington Public Schools Based on MFI Complaints
Complaints filed by MFI’s Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center have prompted a U.S. Department of Education investigation into Burlington Public Schools, marking a significant step for parental rights and school accountability.
We are pleased to report that based on complaints that MFI’s Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center filed on behalf of multiple Burlington parents, the Department of Education has launched an investigation into Burlington Public Schools. The investigation will cover the incident involving a grotesque sexually explicit survey that was given this past March to children as young as 11 years old in Burlington against the express wishes of their parents. This survey delved into students’ sexual history, drug use, self-harm, and other sensitive topics, and described sex acts, including oral and anal sex and sex with “toys or props,” in graphic detail.
This massive violation of parental rights and the innocence of minor children was also a violation of the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, and we applaud the DOE for taking this step to hold Burlington Public Schools accountable. We anticipate that the investigation will ultimately conclude that Burlington violated federal law and that the DOE will require the school district to take swift corrective action. We continue to call on the Burlington School Committee to end its use of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and to adopt an opt-in policy with regard to these kinds of surveys. We also urge the Committee to ensure that superintendent Eric Conti and any other responsible staff members are held accountable for this egregious incident. No one is above the law, and MFI will continue to fight for the rights of Burlington parents until they are vindicated.
About Massachusetts Family Institute: Massachusetts Family Institute is a non-profit public policy organization dedicated to strengthening families, defending parental rights, and advocating for faith, family, and freedom in the Commonwealth since 1991.
