Confronting Antisemitism In Our Schools: A Toolkit for Parents of Jewish K-12 Students

Introduce yourself to, and nurture open lines of communication with, administrators at your child’s school, as well as your child’s teachers. Make sure administrators know how challenging this moment is for many American Jews, with antisemitism increasing at a frightening pace. Let them know how important it is to prioritize Jewish students’ emotional well-being and physical safety, just as they would for all other students. Offer to be a resource, and to connect them with education experts from AJC to help them take steps to raise awareness and create an environment that welcomes all students and is free from Jewish hate.

Offer AJC Resources and Educational Workshops

Ask the school to provide educational programs about antisemitism for your school community. While antisemitism shares some features of other forms of hate, it is also unique. Understanding antisemitism, both historically and today, is a critical first step for effectively addressing this issue in school communities. AJC education experts offer presentations for administrators, faculty, students and/or parents. We are happy to meet with administrators who oversee school culture to discuss tailoring a program that meets the needs of your specific school.

Inquire About Curriculum

Including Jewish history and literature in school curricula humanizes Jews, offers students an understanding of the ways in which Jews and Jewish thought have influenced human civilization, and allows students of all backgrounds to see the diversity, resilience, connectivity, and creativity of the Jewish people over time and today. Ask your school where study of the Jewish experience currently exists in the curriculum. AJC’s Guidance for K-12 Schools to Ensure the Jewish Experience is Included Across the Curriculum provides key questions and enduring understandings about the Jewish people, and is an invaluable resource for educators. 

The following are key points for your conversation with school administrators about curriculum:

• Studying the history of the Jewish people, including – but not exclusively – the Holocaust and antisemitism, is critical to ensuring an informed citizenry.
  • Antisemitism did not originate with the Nazis, nor did it end after World War II. Quality Holocaust education should include antisemitism’s historical roots and its evolution over time so that students understand how to recognize contemporary manifestations of the world’s oldest hate.
  • Holocaust education can miss the boat if it focuses only on the genocide against the Jews without including education about the centuries-old robust and creative European Jewish civilization that was destroyed.
• Social Studies classes should include lessons that explore the experiences, contributions, and challenges faced by the Jewish people throughout history and today.
• English Language Arts (ELA) classes should include literature by Jews about the Jewish experience, including the American Jewish experience. School libraries, whether in elementary, middle, or high schools, should include age-appropriate books that highlight Jewish experiences, people, and holidays.
  • Organizations like the Jewish Book Council provide in-depth information about Jewish literature for all ages.
• Educators must understand the Jewish connection to Israel and when discourse about Israel crosses the line into antisemitism. Education about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be rooted in facts and primary sources and include different narratives and experiences. AJC can recommend respected and responsible curricular providers, such as ConnectED and the Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS), to work with your child’s school on educationally sound materials for teaching about the conflict.

School Belonging

Inquire how education about Jewish identity and antisemitism are included in your school’s educational and professional learning philosophy. Encourage the school to recognize Jewish students and families as a unique group within the school community. AJC can help you advocate for the inclusion of Jews and Jewish identity in your school’s culture. 

The following will help you open conversations with the school about Jewish belonging:

• Share AJC’s Guide to Jewish Religion and Culture, which includes a 5-year planning calendar, to help avoid conflicts with Jewish holidays, be aware of potential accommodations students may need, and learn about key Jewish cultural practices.
• If the school hosts a “cultural night” event/festival, be sure to share AJC’s Guidance on “Cultural Night” Programs with administrators so they can plan and execute it in a way that’s inclusive and respectful of everyone in your school community, including Jewish students and families.

Jewish American Heritage Month - If the school usually celebrates national heritage months of various communities, encourage the school to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month in May. AJC partners with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and with Unpacked for Educators to offer extensive resources for K-12 educational spaces.

Define Antisemitism

Encourage administrators to reference the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, utilizing it as an educational tool to help the school community understand contemporary antisemitism and to help guide policies. IHRA provides a clear and widely accepted framework for identifying antisemitism, including contemporary examples of anti-Zionist forms of antisemitism. The IHRA definition makes clear that criticism of Israeli policy is not antisemitic.

Social Media

Confirm that the school has clear social media policies that address the boundaries of acceptable behavior online for the entire school community—students, faculty, administration, and parents. Advocate for the school to hold age-appropriate conversations about the healthy use of social media, including understanding how to recognize misinformation and disinformation online. Together with your child/ren, look through our resource, How to Engage with Social Media: A Guide for Jewish Teens. 

Incident Reporting

Confirm that the school has a clear mechanism for reporting antisemitic incidents and a transparent process to follow for those who believe they have experienced or witnessed an antisemitic incident. This could include an online portal or a designated administrator. Schools should make clear to the community through their policies and procedures how such incidents will be investigated and addressed. If the school does not have clear reporting structures, or an incident requires further reporting to government, law enforcement, and/or social media companies, AJC has developed this resource to help you (Reporting Antisemitism to Federal Agencies, Law Enforcement, and Social Media Guidance) and this resource to help your student (Toolkit for Jewish K-12 Students). 

• If your child has experienced or witnessed an antisemitic incident, reporting is crucial. According to AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, 78% of Jewish Americans who experienced antisemitism didn’t report it, and if it isn’t reported, it can’t be addressed.

Transparent Communication

If an antisemitic incident occurs at school—or a significant event affects the school’s Jewish community—advocate for the administration to issue an unequivocal statement of support for Jewish students, condemnation of the antisemitic incident, and clear articulation of how the incident will be addressed. AJC can provide guidance to you and your school if an incident occurs. Note that many schools have adopted a policy of institutional neutrality, which means they will not issue statements about global or other events that don’t directly impact the school community. 

Walkouts / Protests

If an anti-Israel protest or walkout is planned or takes place at your child’s school, it is important that you speak with administrators immediately about what such events can mean for Jewish students. See AJC’s Guidance for Handling Student Protests and Walkouts.

Communication is Key

Give your child space to ask questions and express their feelings. Help them feel heard and validated, and understand that they may see situations in school differently than you do. Carefully balance keeping a watchful eye on the thriving of your child in school and allowing your child to build resilience and self-advocacy skills. 

School leaders and educators should be receptive to hearing the concerns and solutions presented by students. You can guide your child in communicating appropriately and effectively with administrators and teachers. While certain circumstances warrant (or even necessitate) parent advocacy over that of students, nurturing young people’s leadership and advocacy skills in age—and situation—appropriate ways builds capability and self-confidence in ways that will continue to pay dividends.

• Student advocacy could be as simple—and impactful—as your child giving their teacher and principal a copy of AJC’s 5-Year Calendar at the beginning of the school year and sharing which dates they will be absent to observe Jewish holidays.

Mental Health

If your child is dealing with anxiety or fears about antisemitism, and/or has been the target of antisemitism, reach out to mental health professionals who can help give your child the support they need. Start with your child’s school, which should be able to offer support through advisors or staff mental health professionals, as well as through school policies and procedures. You can also seek counseling and other supportive resources through private practice or by contacting a local Jewish organization. 

Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT)

LFT is AJC’s premier education, advocacy, and leadership development program that empowers Jewish high school students to build confident Jewish identities, effectively combat antisemitism, and advocate for the Jewish people and Israel. Applications are open every summer and close in early fall. Encourage your teen to apply! For more information, reach out to [email protected].

Jewish Parent Affinity Groups

Building connections with other Jewish parents in your school community creates valuable opportunities for mutual support and advocacy. A Jewish parent affinity group can help foster a sense of belonging for your family while working collectively to promote policies that enhance Jewish safety and inclusion. These groups also serve as bridges to other parent communities in the school, facilitating meaningful dialogue and strengthening the broader school environment for all families. If your child’s school already has a Jewish parent affinity group, consider getting involved. If not, explore the possibility of starting one with school leadership. When collaborating as a Jewish parent group, maintain a respectful and constructive tone in all communications with school administration. Focus on offering specific, actionable recommendations that will improve both safety and the overall learning climate for Jewish students and the wider school community.

To Share with Schools

Finding ways to partner with school leadership allows parents to have a positive impact on ensuring the school community is resilient to antisemitism. Most of the resources below are available for download from AJC's website and can be personally handed to administrators and teachers. This in-person “touch point,” with appropriate follow up, builds trust and is a great way to advocate for your Jewish students. 

AJC Guidance

• Confronting Antisemitism: An Action Plan for Independent School Administrators
• Confronting Antisemitism: An Action Plan for U.S. K-12 Public School Administrators
• The ABCs of Jewish Inclusion: What Your School Should Focus On
• Guidance for K-12 Schools on Conducting a Curriculum Audit
• Guidance for K-12 Schools on “Cultural Night” Programs
• Guidance for K-12 Schools on Selecting Guest Speakers
• Guidance for K-12 Schools on the Anniversary of October 7
• Guidance for K-12 Schools on Protests and Walkouts
• Guidance for K-12 Independent Schools Following the NAIS PoCC Conference

AJC Resources

• A Guide to Jewish Religion, Culture, Holiday Observances, and 5-Year Calendar
• AJC’s Translate Hate Glossary
• AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report
• A Guide to Recognizing When Anti-Israel Actions Become Antisemitic
• Jewish American Heritage Month; Education Toolkit for JAHM
• AJC’s Educational Programs for Middle and High School Spaces 

For Parents and Jewish Teens

• FAQs for Parents of K-12 Jewish Students presents scenarios parents and students may face and specific recommendations for steps to take.
• Guidance on Reporting Antisemitism provides details on how to report to federal agencies, law enforcement, and social media companies.
• Guidance for Jewish Teens on Engaging with Social Media offers recommendations for responsible behavior in online interactions.
• Confronting Antisemitism: A Toolkit for Jewish K-12 Students suggests several ways for students to engage constructively within their school and among their peers.

Find all these materials (and more!) on AJC’s Campus Resource Hub.

AJC’s Center for Education Advocacy is here to support you.

Download a PDF of this content here. 

You can always reach us at [email protected].