The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights plans to investigate Hillsborough County Public Schools over the district’s handling of sexual harassment, federal officials said this week.⁠ ⁠ The inquiry comes after our reporters showed how Hillsborough’s response to sexual misconduct at Tampa's Blake High School left students feeling belittled, dejected and punished.⁠ ⁠ In February 2021, Madisyn Slater, pictured, reported a Blake High teacher for making sexual comments. Other students later made similar reports. But the school waited more than two weeks before calling the police and putting the teacher on leave.⁠ ⁠ The students felt confused and unheard by the process. And Slater came under unusual scrutiny.⁠ ⁠ Slater was one of at least two former Hillsborough students to bring concerns to the federal government over the last year. ⁠ ⁠ The education department told Slater they are dismissing her individual complaint as untimely. But the agency will still investigate the iss...