Congressional Committee Launches Nationwide Investigation into Antisemitism Across Three School Districts

Chairman Walberg demands answers from Berkeley, Fairfax County, and Philadelphia over allegations of administrators facilitating hostile school walkouts and students chanting 'Kill the Jews'

Credit: House Education and Workforce Committee on X

House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) launched a sweeping investigation on November 24, 2025, into three major school districts accused of allowing rampant antisemitism in their classrooms. The probe targets Berkeley Unified School District in California, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, and the School District of Philadelphia, demanding comprehensive documentation of how each district has handled complaints of antisemitic harassment since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.

The investigation examines whether these districts are violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to maintain safe learning environments for Jewish students. The findings will inform potential legislation specifically addressing antisemitism discrimination in K-12 education.

Philadelphia: Teachers Rationalize Terror, Administrator Denies Jewish Ties to Israel

In the letter to Philadelphia, Walberg and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) detail allegations that numerous educators promote antisemitic content in classrooms. One teacher has allegedly threatened Jewish parents and students online, while multiple educators reportedly use lessons from Teaching Palestine, whose materials rationalize terrorist violence and advocate for Israel’s destruction.

Most alarming is Philadelphia’s director of social studies curriculum, who has been widely condemned by Jewish advocacy groups for his “pattern of denying the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel, refusing to speak about peace or coexistence, and downplaying the lived experiences of Jewish people in the face of violence,” according to an open letter from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

After the murder of two Israeli embassy workers and an antisemitic firebombing in Colorado, the administrator wrote: “The groups who align themselves with American savageness should not be surprised when the savageness is turned on you.”

The district’s August 2025 partnership with the Council on American-Islamic Relations Philadelphia chapter has raised further concerns. CAIR Philadelphia promoted a workshop invoking the antisemitic trope of Jewish “political power,” while CAIR national’s executive director stated he was “happy to see people breaking the siege” on October 7—the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

CAIR Philadelphia workshop discussing “Jewish political power.” Credit: The NAVI K-12 Extremism Tracker

Fairfax County: ‘Heil Hitler’ Salutes, Coin-Throwing, Years of Swastika Displays

Fairfax County Public Schools experienced severe antisemitic incidents even before October 7, 2023. Jewish students allegedly faced the “Heil Hitler” salute and had coins thrown at them. One school for years refused to remove a hallway display where 40 percent of painted tiles featured swastikas and Nazi flags.

Since October 7, 2023, conditions have worsened. Recent incidents include school-approved anti-Israel walkouts, MSA chapters distributing flyers depicting Israel’s elimination on the October 7, 2024 anniversary, and students mocking kidnappings in promotional videos.

Controversial promotion video from Virginia MSA students depicting a mock kidnapping. Credit: Combat Antisemitism Movement

Berkeley: Students Chant ‘Kill the Jews’ at School-Approved Walkout

In Berkeley, the investigation led by Walberg and Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) found that teachers and administrators have urged students to join walkouts during school hours that isolate Jewish students. At one walkout, students allegedly chanted “Kill the Jews”.

A Berkeley High School teacher displayed an image of a fist destroying the Star of David, allegedly describing it as “standing up for social justice.” At Malcolm X Elementary School, a second-grade teacher instructed students to write “messages of anti-hate.” When several wrote “stop bombing babies,” the teacher allegedly placed them outside the classroom of the school’s sole Jewish teacher.

Image displayed by a Berkeley High School teacher. Credit: Defending Education

Congressional Authority and Demands

All three districts must provide comprehensive documentation by December 8, 2025, including anonymized charts of all antisemitic incident complaints since October 7, 2023, with details on case handling and disciplinary actions. The committee also demands all documents related to curricula, workshops, partnerships, walkouts, and professional development materials involving Jews, Judaism, Israel, Palestine, Zionism, or antisemitism.