California officials rule on antisemitism issues in school districts

The California Department of Education has ruled that a photo in the Berkeley High School yearbook contributed to a “discriminatory environment” for Jewish students. The photo depicts a student holding a sign regarding the October 7 attacks. This ruling is part of a series of decisions by the state against the Berkeley Unified School District regarding its handling of issues related to the war in Gaza.

In a separate matter, a school district has indefinitely postponed mandatory antisemitism training following concerns raised by teachers. The training, which was required as part of a $325,000 lawsuit settlement and to be facilitated by Jewish Family and Children’s Services, was halted after staff reviewed the materials. Teachers expressed concerns regarding the safety and emotional nature of certain activities, such as “turn and pair share” exercises, when conducted in large groups.