PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia has agreed to do more to investigate claims of antisemitism as part of the settlement of a federal civil rights complaint.
According to the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigation, the district did not do enough to investigate whether a hostile environment existed for Jewish students.
Parents and members of the Jewish Family Association filed the federal complaint in May, citing alleged incidents in schools over the last two years, including Nazi salutes and graffiti, swastikas on a smartboard, anti-Israel social media posts, and harassing social media comments by teachers.
The OCR said the district did not produce records of the allegations. It also expressed concern that school staff members apparently retaliated against parents who filed the federal complaint.
In a statement, district spokesperson Monique Braxton said the district takes allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia seriously.
“OCR has recognized areas where the district has shown its commitment to this important work and also identified areas needing additional attention as well as improvement,” she said.
Braxton also noted the district has already been holding forums for students and staff.
“The School District of Philadelphia strives to create welcoming and inclusive environments that allow our students to feel safe and heard,” she continued in a statement. “The District takes all complaints of bullying, harassment, and discrimination seriously, including allegations of Antisemitism and Islamophobia. In an effort to provide school communities with opportunities to be heard and engage with District leaders collectively, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has intentionally been providing learning spaces and hosting forums. Today, the District entered into a voluntary resolution agreement with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) as part of our commitment to continue these efforts in creating welcoming and inclusive environments.”
Under the resolution, the district has agreed to conduct more anti-discrimination and anti-harassment staff training and to revise its procedures for investigating discrimination complaints.