Step 1: Maintain Open Communication with Your Child
Give your child space to express feelings and share experiences about being Jewish at school. Understand and honor that they may see things differently than you do. Recognize that they may be reticent to speak up even when they are feeling excluded or discriminated against. Help them build resilience and self-advocacy skills, and guide them in communicating effectively with school staff. Consider mental health support if needed. Explore AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow program for high schoolers.
Step 2: Build Relationships with Administration
Establish open communication with the administrators at your child’s school. Let them know about the challenges facing American Jews today and offer to be a resource on addressing Jewish belonging in school. Share AJC’s Action Plan for K-12 Administrators (Public School; Independent School)
Step 3: Promote Jewish Belonging
Share AJC’s Guide to Jewish Religion and Culture, which includes a 5-year planning calendar with dates and explanations of Jewish holidays. Encourage recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month in May and ensure cultural events are inclusive of Jewish students and families. Share this resource: Guidance for K-12 Schools on “Cultural Night” Programs.
Step 4: Advocate for Education about Jewish Identity and Antisemitism
Request educational programs about Jewish identity and antisemitism for your school community. Understanding antisemitism’s unique nature and history is crucial for addressing it effectively. AJC offers tailored presentations for administrators, faculty, students, and parents. For more information, or to request an educational program, please email education@ajc.org.
Step 5: Seek Curricular Enrichment
Ask where Jewish history and literature currently exist in your school’s curriculum. Advocate for inclusion of Jewish experiences, contributions, and challenges throughout history. Ensure that Holocaust education includes: (1) information about the Jewish civilization that was destroyed; (2) Jewish resistance to Nazi terror, and (3) antisemitism’s historical roots and contemporary manifestations. Share this resource: Guidance for K-12 Schools on Conducting a Curriculum Audit.
Step 6: Support Clear Antisemitism Policies
Encourage administrators to reference the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism as an educational tool and policy guide. This definition provides a clear framework for identifying contemporary antisemitism. Note that it makes clear that legitimate criticism of Israeli policies is not antisemitic.
Step 7: Confirm Clear Reporting Systems
Confirm your school has clear mechanisms for reporting antisemitic incidents with transparent investigation processes. According to AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, 78% of Jewish Americans who experienced antisemitism didn’t report it—but reporting is crucial for addressing incidents. Explore this resource: Reporting Antisemitism.
Step 8: Address Social Media and Online Behavior
Advocate for clear social media policies and age-appropriate conversations about healthy social media use, including recognizing misinformation and disinformation. Review and share AJC’s guide How to Engage with Social Media with your teen.
Step 9: Prepare for Protests and Other Incidents
Ask school administrators about their plans to manage anti-Israel protests or walkouts in school. Share AJC’s Translate Hate glossary with them and familiarize them with the types of language that are frequently used in protests that are hurtful and feel dangerous to many Jewish students. Advocate for transparent communication and unequivocal support statements when antisemitic incidents happen. Share this resource: Guidance for K-12 School Administrators: Handling Student Protests and Walkouts.
Step 10: Build Community Support
Connect with other Jewish parents to form affinity groups for mutual support, uplifting Jewish programming, and collective advocacy. Work together respectfully with school leadership, offering specific, actionable recommendations that improve safety and learning for all students.
Remember: Learn more by exploring our comprehensive Toolkit for Parents of Jewish K-12 Students, and make sure to download and share our Toolkit for Jewish K-12 Students with your child. You can find and download additional resources from AJC’s Campus Resource Hub to share with your school community. AJC’s Center for Education Advocacy is available to support you and provide guidance for your child’s school. Reach out to us at education@ajc.org.
