The Department of Education on Tuesday announced it's launching a federal investigation into allegations of widespread  staff-on-student  sexual misconduct at New York City public schools.

The investigation, led by the department's Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey, will seek to determine whether the district's handling of sexual harassment and assault claims against teachers, administrators, and other school personnel violated federal Title IX rules - including by being swept under the rug.

 Some of the reports indicate that there have been almost 2,000 instances in New York City where school staff have engaged in sexual misconduct with students,  Richey said in an interview with  Cats and Cosby Show  hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby.

 We are just not going to allow school staff to engage in this type of abuse,  the assistant secretary continued.  We are taking a hard stance against this. 

3 NYC public schools could lose federal funds if the district does not come into compliance with Title IX. Getty Images

Richey called the allegations against New York City's Department of Education  systemic and disturbing  and suggested the district may be  enabling child abuse in schools. 

The Trump administration official said many of the complaints have come from  scared parents,  who believe  something may be going on with their child,  while others have been leveled by school staff.

The Department of Education aims to find out whether New York City allowed district employees suspected of sexual misconduct to evade punishment and resign, or possibly remain on the job amid complaints.

3 The assistant secretary of the Department of Education said some 2,000 complaints related to sexual misconduct at NYC public schools have been submitted. Helayne Seidman

 What do New York City public schools know? Are they handling these complaints appropriately? Are they doing what they are legally required to do to protect students in New York City public schools?  Richey said of the questions her office is seeking answers from the district.

 We are going to hold the school distr

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