House Republicans Probe Antisemitism Allegations In NorCal School District

BERKELEY, CA — Federal lawmakers have opened what they describe as a nationwide investigation into antisemitism in K–12 schools — a probe that includes Berkeley Unified School District in the Bay Area.

The investigation focuses on three major districts — Berkeley Unified, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, and the School District of Philadelphia — following reports that Jewish students have faced harassment and been exposed to antisemitic imagery and rhetoric at school.

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, announced the inquiry Monday, calling the reports “disturbing” and saying the committee is seeking documents and responses from all three districts.

Berkeley Unified, however, said the allegations referenced in the committee’s letter reflect issues raised nearly a year and a half ago and that the district has already addressed them.

“Today’s letter from the U.S. House Committee on Education concerns allegations raised almost 18 months ago,” the district said in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Times. “The information sought in the current letter concerns those old allegations. The district will, of course, respond appropriately to the committee’s letter. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of all students in BUSD is unwavering.”

The committee is demanding the following from the schools by Dec. 8, according to the letter:

• A breakdown of all complaints filed against students, faculty or staff involving possible antisemitic incidents.
• Any records tied to walkouts, demonstrations, lesson plans, workshops, curriculum materials, guest speakers and other activities referencing Jews, Judaism, Israel, Palestine, Zionism or antisemitism.
• Any contracts or agreements containing references to Jews, Judaism, Israel, Palestine, Zionism or antisemitism.

In the letter to Berkeley Unified, Walberg and Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., wrote that some teachers and administrators allegedly “facilitated and encouraged” antisemitic hostility while others failed to intervene.

They cited claims that teachers and staff encouraged students to join post-Oct. 7, 2023, walkouts that left Jewish students feeling isolated.

At one of those walkouts, students were reportedly heard chanting “Kill the Jews.” The letter also referenced a Berkeley High School teacher accused of displaying an image of a fist crushing the Star of David and describing it as an act of “social justice.”

The committee’s letters to the two other districts outline similar allegations. In Fairfax County, Jewish students reportedly endured bullying that included classmates performing the “Heil Hitler” salute and throwing coins at them.

One school allegedly retained a hallway display in which nearly 40 percent of student-painted tiles depicted swastikas or Nazi flags. In another instance, the district’s Muslim Students’ Association invited a speaker with a history of antisemitic social media posts.

The School District of Philadelphia was cited for allegations that some educators promoted antisemitic classroom material and that one teacher allegedly threatened Jewish parents and students online.

Berkeley Unified Supt. Enikia Ford Morthel previously addressed the allegations directly when she testified before Congress in May 2024.

“Our babies sometimes say hurtful things,” she said at the time, according to the Times. “We are mindful that all kids make mistakes. We know that our staff are not immune to missteps either, and we don’t ignore them when they occur. However, antisemitism is not pervasive in Berkeley Unified School District.”