The president of the Montgomery County Board of Education (MCBE) was strongly criticized by members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education during a hearing focused on antisemitism in K-12 schools alleged within county schools, and as the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into the district earlier this year.
In defending the district, the MCBE President said they do not “shy away from imposing consequences for hate-based behavior, including antisemitism.” She said the district’s policy is to “initiate an investigation each time the school system receives a complaint or we witness particular antisemitic, hate-filled or racist language or actions.” She said county school officials have not fired anybody but have “taken disciplinary action” against some teachers. She also cited efforts the school system is taking to combat antisemitism in its schools, such as imposing mandatory hate-based training for all staff starting this summer and enhancing the curriculum in K-12 schools to expand on topics surrounding the Jewish experience.
The hearing also featured testimony from two other school district
leaders, including David Banks, chancellor for New York City Public
Schools, and Enikia Ford Morthel, superintendent of Berkeley Unified
School District in California.
U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Florida), subcommittee chair, said what has occurred since the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th “has revealed some of the ugliest, most depraved ideas once marginalized from polite society, and our education system has failed to stop it.” He said all three leaders “represent public school districts that have allowed vile antisemitism to spread unchecked.” The school officials all rejected allegations that they tolerate antisemitism within their districts.
In addition, Montgomery County Public Schools is at the center of a federal Title VI investigation started in February, 2024, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The investigation was based on an opinion piece posted on a hyperlocal news site. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal funding.
Last month, the Zionist Organization of America filed a civil rights complaint against the district over allegations of “severe, persistent and pervasive antisemitism in the schools that district officials have failed to address.” The complaint alleges intimidation and harassment.
