Giving Compass' Take:

• Adriana Cardona-Maguigad and Sarah Karp share stories of Chicago Public School students who suffered abuse because of systemic problems.

• How are other school districts coping with this problem? How can donors help improve the Chicago Public School system? 

• Learn about the problem of closing Chicago public schools.

The state is considering launching its own investigation into Chicago Public Schools’ handling of sexual abuse and misconduct cases by its employees, the state Board of Education’s general counsel told state lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday on sexual abuse in the school district.

An extensive public inquiry by the Illinois State Board of Education would mark the second state investigation of CPS this year. The first looked at CPS’ special education program, finding that a recent overhaul violated federal special education laws. The state board voted to appoint a monitor who will have final say on key matters related to special education.

The House education committee hearing in Chicago was prompted by a Chicago Tribune investigation that found the school district looked into more than 400 reports of school employees sexually violating students since 2011. The Tribune also found that the district failed to protect children from sexual abuse because of widespread, systemic problems.

Morgan Aranda, now 22, said she was traumatized by the reaction of school administrators when she told them, at age 14, that she had been kissed and groped by a teacher. Aranda attended Walter Payton College Prep.

“I was pulled from class to sit alone in a room with an old man who asked, not how I felt or what they could do to make me feel safe in my school again, but what I was wearing when I had been assaulted,” Aranda said.

Read the full article about sexual abuse in Chicago Public Schools by Adriana Cardona-Maguigad and Sarah Karp at WBEZ Chicago.