Policies. Their testimony followed multiple allegations of antisemitism after the deadly hamas attacks in israel on october 7 of last year. [inaudible conversations] ladies and gentlemen, a very good morning. Welcome to the nations capital. The subcommittee on Early Childhood elementary and secondary education will come to order. A quorum is present. Without objection, the chair is authorized to call the recess at any time. The holocaust ended in 1945. The hate to behind it has not. Antisemitism is repugnant and all its forms, but the topic of todays hearing is particularly troubling. Its hard to grasp how antisemitism has become such a dominant force in our k12 schools. Some kids as young as second grade are spewing nazi propaganda which begs the question who has positioned these young minds to attack the jewish people. The very need for this hearing is a travesty. The aftermath of october 7 has revealed some of the ugliest most deprived ideas. Once marginalized from society and our Education System has failed to stop it. Its not just antiisrael, its antiamerican. Antiamerican. Its antidemocracy. Our Witnesses Today represent, three of the witnesses represent some of the Largest School districts in the nation where theres been some vital antisemitism in their districts. Just a few minutes ago, we heard from students, parents and even a teacher who said this is happening without an appropriate or any response at all. Jewish students in their districts fear riding the bus, just eating and breathing as a jewish student. Today we get to hear from the leaders of the districts to tell us what are you doing, what are they doing to keep students safe. New york city, and i just met the home to the largest most vibrant Jewish Community and the nations of the stories coming out of the new york city Public Schools are harrowing. Reports that we have, march through the class, one student was called on camera performing a nazi salute and swastikas were drawn on the teachers walls in one week. Antisemitism within Montgomery CountyPublic Schools, and its close to home its just 15 miles from here. Mc ps has been home to student walkouts featuring calls to kill the jews, bring hitler back and whats worse, the administrators approved excused absences for the walkouts in violation of the district policy and finally berkeley, Unified School District thrust into the National Spotlight and perhaps the most public fashion of the group, the allegations are most serious. While not exhausted, the details of the beast includes kids playing nazi salute songs to their jewish classmates. What are you doing to keep students safe and how can we stop this . Youve been accused of doing nothing and turning a blind eye. We are going to give you a chance to say exactly what youre doing and what are you doing to keep students safe. Middle and High School Students or hard enough. Its hard enough being a kid in middle and high School Without the added fear of being jewish. I can hardly fathom sending one of my suns to school knowing he will be exposed to the vile discrimination, yet parents are faced every day with this struggle. It doesnt have to be this way. This is the moment for all of us to take a stand against hate, the indoctrination of the next generation of future leaders and with that i yield to the Ranking Member for her opening statement. Thank you very much mr. Chairman. There is no question we must do more to combat antisemitism not just in schools, but everywhere. We must do more to protect jewish students into Jewish Americans who are threatened and harassed and attacked because of who they are. Every student deserves to feel safe and be safe at school. At the same time we must do more to address the rise in islam a phobia and other forms of discrimination and hate as well. Ive said many times i hope the committee can Work Together on ways to address the scourge of antisemitism, and i will express that again today that we Seek Solutions that recognize the seriousness and scope of the challenge, the importance of keeping students safe at school, and the need to balance the civil rights of students to be free from discrimination under title vi of the Civil Rights Act with the First Amendment right to free speech and expression. This is the education committee, and i hope that we will discuss the Important Role of education and importantly prevention. In fact, at the top of the list on the biden administrations u. S. National strategy to combat antisemitism is to increase schoolbased education about antisemitism including the holocaust into Jewish American heritage. Antisemitism is not a new problem. The adl, the Antidefamation League has been working on it for decades and in fact they have a center for Antisemitism Research. The American Jewish committee has an action plan with a toolkit for Public School administrators. Lesson plans and other teaching materials are widely available through organizations like the u. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Like new york and several other states, my home state of oregon requires holocaust and genocide study with ageappropriate curriculum available. I remember my late friend holocaust survivor in his 80s and 90s told his story of survival to hundreds of audiences and universities, colleges, middle schools and high schools, places of worship, prisons and clubs. Personally and through his book from a name to a number that is the kind of unforgettable education that makes a difference and may his memory be a blessing. I also want to emphasize that its important for leaders to stand up to antisemitism no matter where it comes from. Many of my colleagues claim to care about the rise in this country but when they march in Charlottesville Virginia with burning porches into chanting jews will not replace us, the president at the time, donald trump, said there were very fine people on both sides. One of the participants that unite was nick fuente a vile antisemite who among other statements denied of the scope of the holocaust while comparing jews exterminated in concentration camps to cookies being baked man oven. Former President Trump posted him in november of 22. General john kelly who served as then President Trumps chief of staff and stated both favorably about hitler including that he had done some good things. And just a few months ago he said, quote, any jewish person that votes for democrats hates their religion. Despite of these persistent examples of comments that others have called antisemitic and continued relationships, ive not heard one word from colleagues across the aisle. In fact what we have seen this consolidation of support. If my colleagues care about antisemitism, they would condemn and denounce these comments from the leader of their party so i will offer up my colleagues on the other side of the aisle the opportunity to condemn these previous comments i look forward to the testimony and conversation today with the hope that we could have a constructive dialogue about how to fight back against antisemitism so all students can be safe and feel safe at school whether it is a k12 school, college or university and i yield back the balance of my time. Pursuant to the rule all that wish to insert statements may do so by submitting them to the Committee Clerk electronically. May 202nd, 2024 and without objection the record will remain open for 14 days after the date of the hearing to allow such statements and other materials referenced to be submitted for the official record. I note the subcommittee there are members, colleagues that are not a permanent part of the subcommittee who may be waving for the purpose of todays hearing. And now lets get to the introductions of the distinguished panel. The first witness is the chancellor of the new york city Public Schools where the new York City Department of education in new york new york. The new York City School is the largest system in the nation. Appointed by mayor eric adams on january 1, 2022 but he started his career as a School Safety officer after which he began his first teaching job at Public School 167. He serves as an assistant principal at 191 before becoming a founding principle of the school for law, government and justice. Hes a native new yorker and graduate of the Public School system. He holds a bachelors degree from Rutgers University and earned his jd from st. Johns university of law. The second witness is carla who is the president of the Montgomery County board of education for the schools and rockville maryland to get elected to the second fouryear term on november 8th, 2022 she is serving a second term as the president of the board of education. The education policy experience began at the university of pennsylvania where she worked at the collaborative for Science Education working as a teacher, professional development and handson Science Education in West Philadelphia schools. She served as Vice President for children and youth for the link nonprofit for the preventative school year and summer youth programs. Graduating from Florida State universitys with a bachelors degree in biology and received her masters degree in education from the university of pennsylvania. Greetings from the sunshine state. We are glad to see where you are. Lets yield for the introduction of a witness. I welcome to the committee the senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties union who worked on the Privacy Technology project. Focusing on First Amendment freespeech protections and among other things previously served as a Legal Advisor for africa from Stanford University a masters in Public Affairs from the Princeton School of public and International Affairs and the doctorate from the New York University of law. Welcome. The final witness, superintendent of the berkeley Unified School District into berkeley california. And the urban educator and Community Activist with over 21 years of experience. Aside from serving as superintendent of berkeley Unified School District, she is a professor, senior lecturer at the urban education at Loyola University and is active in the Community Serving as a board member for organizations such as 826 valencia and other nonprofit organizations with missions aligned to hers. Shes a proud member of delta sigma inc. Welcome to the witnesses we thank you for being here and look forward to your testimony pursuant to the Committee Rules i would ask that you limit each of your oral presentations to five minutes. At the summary of your written statements, your full written statement is in the record, but it just like us up here, you get five minutes. Thats what our little timer system will do if by chance you go past i will give you a little time and that is a great way to say wrap it up. I recognize your response ability to provide Accurate Information to the subcommittee. With that, lets get started. It is a pleasure to recognize esther banks for his fiveminute testimony. Welcome. You are recognized. Okay. Hope i didnt lose my time. Thank you so much again. Good morning. The chairwoman, chairman dean, Ranking Member scott, and distinguished members of the committee and subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to address the perfect rise in antisemitism. The number one religiousbased hate crime in america. I also want to thank rabbi joseph, Michael Cohen and the reverend for joining me here today. Today i will share how we are confronting the scourge of antisemitism in our new york city Public Schools. The new York City School system, which is the nations largest is a community of over 1 Million Students and a staff. We speak over 180 different languages in our schools. Our diversity however means our classrooms are not insulated from the global stage. Since october 7th our students and staff, jewish and muslim, israeli and palestinian suffered immensely. I also have felt deep pain reflecting on my own two trips to israel with the Jewish Communitys relation council. Again and again my mind has returned to my visit. A profoundly moving experience for me. In the immediate aftermath of october 7, mayor eric adams made powerful remarks condemning the terrorist attacks. I sent messages to the communities strongly condemning the heinous acts of hamas. But words are not enough. There had been unacceptable incidences in the schools. When jewish students were teachers feel unwelcome or unsafe, that should sound the alarm for us all. I recognize the urgency of addressing the crisis as an educator of 30 plus years, as a leader of the system for the next generation of new yorkers it is not only my job to produce good readers and riders, our schools must also build good people. People who demonstrate respect and appreciation for our shared humanity. When it comes to rooting out antisemitism, the Public Schools must be part of the answer. Let me tell you about this moment that focuses on safety, engagement and education. Number one, safety is a precondition for learning. I started my career as a School Safety officer and my father was a proud decades long officer of the new York City Police department. Keeping schools safe is in my dna. When antisemitism rears its head, i believe we must respond and we have. We have removed, disciplined, or are in the process of disciplining at least a dozen staff and School Leaders including removing a principal in the middle of the school year. Weve suspended at least 30 students and when hate crimes are committed we have retrained all 1600 principles on the discipline code to ensure that its been enforced properly. Second, we have engaged thousands of partners to help us design longterm solutions. My instinct as a leader in moments of crisis is never too shy away from an issue, but rather to lean into it to understand it better. New york city is home to the largest Jewish Community outside of israel and many of the nations foremost jewish institutions. As we have strengthened our relationships with these partners that include the federation, the Antidefamation League, the museum of tolerance, the Jewish Childrens Museum, project witness and many more. I also launched for the first time in history and Interfaith Advisory Council because we must model for our students how to build bridges, engage in genuine dialogue and share each others pain in challenging times and finally, education. We cannot simply discipline our way out of the problem. The true antidote to ignorance and bias is to teach. My own children learn about antisemitism firsthand from our nextdoor neighbors were Holocaust Survivors in new jersey. About as survivors caps on and in light of current events, the need for education becomes even more pressing. Our students cannot grow up to view anyone as the other. In addition to covering the holocaust and eighth, ninth, tenth grade we are creating an educated guide with the museum of jewish heritage and we are building a brandnew curriculum highlighting the culture and contribution of the Jewish Community, because the history of the jewish people extends far beyond the holocaust. Weve also partnered with the prevention of hate crimes and a new hate crimes curriculum. Weve expanded our antisemitism resources and workshops. Finally, let me say this. New york city Public Schools we are focused on our charge to fight hate and force the inclusion to Safety Engagement and education. We are working hard and we have a long way to go. Theres always more to do. I hope that we can be a candle in the darkness. Thank you. T