The U.S. Department of Education announced on Wednesday evening that it is launching an investigation into whether Penn State University violated federal law by failing to disclose allegations of sexual offense against a former football coach. 

Former Nittany Lion Defensive Coach Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing several young boys over several years, and the scandal prompted longtime coach Joe Paterno to announce he’ll step down at the end of the season.

Under the Clery Act, colleges and universities are required to disclose the number of criminal offenses on campus that are reported each year, and the U.S. Department of Education is responsible for Clery Act compliance, according to a statement by the department.

“If these allegations of sexual abuse are true then this is a horrible tragedy for those young boys,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “If it turns out that some people at the school knew of the abuse and did nothing or covered it up, that makes it even worse. Schools and school officials have a legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from violence and abuse.”