Leaders of some of the largest U.S. public school districts are facing questions from a House panel Wednesday about incidents of antisemitism in their schools.
A Republican-led House education subcommittee has called Berkeley Unified Schools Superintendent Ford Morthel of California, New York City School Chancellor David Banks and Montgomery County School Board President Karla Silvestre of Maryland to testify.
"Antisemitic incidents have exploded in K-12 schools following Hamas' horrific Oct. 7 attack. Jewish teachers, students, and faculty have been denied a safe learning environment and forced to contend with antisemitic agitators due to district leaders' inaction," Rep. Aaron Bean, a Florida Republican who chairs the House Education and Workforce subcommittee on elementary and secondary education, told CBS News.
A senior committee aide told CBS News the panel didn't issue subpoenas, but it did ask the school district leaders to appear voluntarily.
In a written statement shared with CBS News, the Berkeley United School District said Morthel "did not seek" to testify but has accepted the invitation to appear.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Berkeley schools emphasized their commitment to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for all students. They stated, "We strive every day to ensure that our classrooms are respectful, humanizing, and joyful places for all our students, where they are welcomed, seen, valued, and heard. We will continue to center our students and take care of each other during this time."
Concerns have been raised in each of the three school districts regarding the handling of reported incidents of antisemitism, with a significant population of Jewish students in each district.
Recent actions by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Louis Brandeis Center have drawn attention to these issues, highlighting the need for addressing antisemitism in educational settings.
The Zionist Organization of America also made headlines by filing a civil rights complaint against Montgomery County Public Schools, alleging a pattern of ignoring and tolerating antisemitic incidents within the district. The school district has yet to respond to these allegations.
Publicly available policies from the Montgomery County Public School District affirm the rights of students to practice their religious beliefs without fear of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. The district is facing scrutiny over its handling of antisemitic incidents, prompting calls for more robust measures to address religious diversity and ensure a safe and inclusive educational environment for all students.
In a recent development, New York City is facing a civil rights complaint from the Brandeis Center. The complaint alleges a failure to address persistent antisemitism against teachers within the city. When questioned about the chancellor's planned testimony, a spokesperson for the New York Public Schools directed CBS News to statements made by Banks during a public event earlier this month.
"Exclusion and intimidation go against the core values of public education," Banks emphasized. "We cannot tolerate hateful acts, whether they manifest physically or through antisemitic rhetoric."
"Allowing such behavior only inflicts more pain and builds more barriers," Banks continued. "It is essential that we unite in opposition to it."
