The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has taken legal action against the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado. This civil rights complaint highlights years of reported antisemitic harassment within the district. Incidents include students performing Nazi salutes, mocking the Holocaust, and playing a game derogatorily called ‘Jew touch tag,’ targeting Jewish students.
Parents and observers have expressed outrage at the district’s insufficient response to severe bullying that escalated into physical assaults and criminal charges. Concerns among Jewish families have heightened, fearing for the safety of their children in school environments.
As students learn cultural and societal norms in schools, recent rises in antisemitism threaten this educational foundation. The New York Police Department reported an 8.5% increase in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City during the first half of 2026. While Jewish New Yorkers represent only a fraction of the population, they suffer the majority of targeted hate crimes.
This problem persists beyond New York. FBI data reveals Jews, who make up 2% of the U.S. population, are targets in 16% of hate crimes and almost 70% of religion-based hate crimes. Alarmingly, 10% of these occur in educational institutions, with antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools surging 434% since 2020.
The broader impact of antisemitism extends to society as a whole. Addressing it requires responses from cultural and political leaders. Recent incidents, such as graffiti reading ‘F— ALL Jews’ at UCLA, emphasize the urgency of tackling this issue.
Online platforms play a role, as 74% of Americans encountering antisemitism do so online. Jewish adults often do not report these experiences due to doubts about meaningful action. This environment spills over into schools, affecting Jewish and non-Jewish children alike.
While schools cannot resolve every societal failure, they must set standards for respectful interaction. The U.S. Department of Education reminds schools of their responsibility under Title VI to protect all students from discrimination, including Jewish students.
Educational institutions need proactive plans for handling potential threats. These include procedures for reporting incidents, preserving evidence, communicating with families, and safeguarding students. Safety should not become an added burden for Jewish families; it is a public concern.
Public funding must match the scale of threats. The FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program allocated $274.5 million for security measures, but only approved 27% of applications in 2025. With rising threats, funding should increase to ensure all qualified applicants receive support.
Leaders across sectors must address antisemitism collectively. School boards, governors, clergy, and cultural figures influence the norms children learn. A society-wide response entails comprehensive education, robust security, lawful accountability, responsible technology use, and moral clarity. Jewish students should never feel compelled to conceal their identity to receive an education.
Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition, advocates for policies that prioritize students and families, partnering with Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, and nonpublic schools.
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