California School District Agrees to Remove Alleged Antisemitic Content from Ethnic Studies Curriculum

A California school district has agreed to halt its controversial ethnic studies curriculum following a settlement with Jewish advocacy groups. The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) faced allegations of antisemitism and secrecy in crafting its Ethnic Studies courses, prompting a lawsuit filed by the Brandeis Center, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

Under the settlement, SAUSD will temporarily suspend courses such as Ethnic Studies World Geography and Ethnic Studies: Perspectives, Identities, and Social Justice until they are revised with public input and comply with California’s open meeting laws. This agreement is seen as a victory for transparency and inclusivity in education.

Marci Miller, director of legal investigations at the Brandeis Center, emphasized that the settlement sends a clear warning to schools nationwide. "Curriculum can’t be created in secret. It needs to be available to the public and parents to avoid this in the future," she stated. Her message? Think twice before trying to sneak bias into the classroom—people are watching.

SAUSD, for its part, maintained that the lawsuit stemmed from "misperceptions." Superintendent Jerry Almendarez stated, "At no time has the District supported teaching content that reflects adversely on any group based on religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin." Nevertheless, the district acknowledged an opportunity to improve its process, promising to allow public input on future courses.

The lawsuit shed light on troubling practices, including antisemitic statements allegedly made by members of the Ethnic Studies Steering Committee. Evidence revealed comments such as "Jews are the oppressors" and discussions about using Jewish holidays to schedule meetings, presumably to limit Jewish participation. One committee leader reportedly refused to label Hamas as a terrorist organization even after the October 7 attacks, citing concerns about "dehumanizing" language.

SAUSD also agreed to recognize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a controversial issue. Future instruction will adhere to policies ensuring balanced perspectives, factual accuracy, and the separation of opinion from fact. The district will disband its controversial Steering Committee, sever ties with an external consultant accused of promoting antisemitic views, and remove biased content from its Ethnic Studies World Histories course.

James Pasch, ADL vice president of national litigation, pointed out the broader implications of the case. "This sends a message—not just in Santa Ana, but coast-to-coast—that if school leaders implement antisemitic curriculum in violation of the law, we will use the courts to protect the community."

The lawsuit, originally filed in September 2023, alleged that SAUSD violated the Brown Act—California’s open meeting law—and AB 101, which requires public school curricula to be free from bias and discrimination. The settlement underscores the importance of transparency in educational policymaking and serves as a wake-up call for other districts attempting to avoid scrutiny.

Marc Stern, AJC Chief Legal Officer, summed it up: "Classrooms must be places for education, not indoctrination." Meanwhile, Brandeis Center Vice Chair L. Rachel Lerman warned other districts of similar consequences if they attempt to operate "under the radar." The message is clear: secrecy and bias in education won’t be tolerated.