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@EdWorkforceCmte Investigation Exposes Antisemitism, Political Indoctrination in K-12 Schools

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) released a new report exposing how antisemitism and radical activism have made their way into K-12 classrooms and the nation's largest teachers union.

The report details findings from the Committee's investigations into the School District of Philadelphia, Berkeley Unified School District, and the National Education Association (NEA).

Chairman Walberg said: "Parents send their children to school to learn reading, writing, and math—not to be taught to hate Israel or embrace radical political causes. Yet that's exactly the kind of material our investigation uncovered. Jewish students deserve to feel safe in their classrooms, and parents deserve to know what their children are being taught. Schools that receive taxpayer dollars must be held accountable when they fail to protect students from antisemitism."

The Committee's investigation uncovered:

• Philadelphia schools taught lessons excusing violence: A world history assignment asks students to honor a resistance movement, listing a Hamas-endorsed campaign as an option. Another lesson asks students to label the United States and Israel as terrorists.
• Philadelphia forced to rethink its curriculum: After years of complaints, the district told the Committee it would stop allowing teachers and administrators to write social studies curricula. Its social studies curriculum director is also undergoing termination proceedings.
• Berkeley lessons erase Israel from the map: An ethnic studies unit features a map labeling Israel as "Palestine" and praises figures with histories of antisemitic remarks.
• Berkeley teachers keep parents in the dark: Teachers told colleagues they were "not at liberty to share" an Israel/Palestine lesson set directly with families. The Committee found that the lessons downplayed terrorism.
• The NEA turns its back on an antisemitism watchdog: Internal documents show the union was already avoiding work with the Anti-Defamation League before members voted to cut ties in 2025.
• The NEA bankrolls groups pushing antisemitic materials: Since October 7, 2023, the union has pledged thousands of dollars to Rethinking Schools and the Zinn Education Project, which the Committee identified as sources of antisemitic K-12 materials.

The Committee launched these investigations after antisemitic incidents surged following Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks against Israel. In 2023 alone, antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools increased by 135 percent, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The Committee will continue investigating antisemitism in K-12 schools and working to hold schools accountable for protecting Jewish students.

Read the full report HERE.

Read the Committee’s transcribed interview with School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington HERE.

View documents from the School District of Philadelphia HERE.

View documents from Berkeley Unified School District – Part 1 HERE.

View documents from Berkeley Unified School District – Part 2 HERE.

View documents from the NEA HERE.

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