Congress to question three public school district leaders on their policies regarding antisemitism

The issue of antisemitism in U.S. public schools has come under scrutiny as leaders from some of the largest school districts face questions from a House panel. The Republican-led House education subcommittee has called on Berkeley Unified Schools Superintendent Ford Morthel, New York City School Chancellor David Banks, and Montgomery County School Board President Karla Silvestre to testify.

According to Rep. Aaron Bean, antisemitic incidents have increased in K-12 schools following a recent attack by Hamas. Jewish teachers, students, and faculty have reportedly faced discrimination and harassment due to the inaction of district leaders. The panel has asked the school district leaders to appear voluntarily to address these concerns.

The Berkeley United School District has stated that Morthel did not initially seek to testify but has accepted the invitation. The district emphasized its commitment to creating a respectful and inclusive environment for all students. Similarly, complaints about the handling of alleged incidents of antisemitism have been raised in the New York City and Montgomery County school districts.

The Anti-Defamation League and the Louis Brandeis Center have filed complaints against the Berkeley school system, while the Zionist Organization of America has filed a complaint against Montgomery County Public Schools. New York City also faces a civil rights complaint regarding persistent antisemitism. Leaders from these districts are expected to address these issues during their testimonies before the House panel.