The U.S. Department of Education has announced an investigation into Penn State University's sex offense scandal over the school's compliance with crime disclosure policies.

Penn State football's former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, has been accused of molesting eight boys over 15 years.

The investigation -- to be carried out by the Office of Federal Student Aid -- will determine whether the school followed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and the Campus Crime Statistics Act, says a Fox News report.  

"If these allegations of sexual abuse are true then this is a horrible tragedy for those young boys," said Education Secretary 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."