The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) is calling for immediate and long-term action following what it describes as a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across Montgomery County Public Schools.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s newly released Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, Montgomery County accounted for two-thirds of all reported antisemitic incidents in Maryland. The report also found that Maryland ranked first among the top 10 reporting states for the percentage of incidents occurring in K-12 schools, with 34% tied to school settings.
In a statement released Tuesday, JCRC Chief Operating Officer Guila Franklin Siegel said MCPS has experienced “a deeply troubling pattern of antisemitic and/or anti-Zionist incidents” in recent months.
The organization cited multiple reported incidents, including anti-Jewish and anti-Israel graffiti at Greenwood Elementary School, inflammatory anti-Israel messaging during a recent culture night at Olney Elementary School, “Heil Hitler” gestures and speech at middle school events, and reports of threats and harassment targeting Jewish students at multiple schools.
“The number of reports JCRC has received about antisemitism at MCPS is significantly higher than other school districts across our region,” Siegel said. “While the details vary, these incidents reveal a harsh truth: too many Jewish students and educators at too many MCPS schools continue to face too many threats.”
JCRC said it recently met with MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and senior district leaders to discuss steps the district should take moving forward. The organization is calling for a zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism and other forms of hate, increased training for educators and administrators, and stronger enforcement of disciplinary policies.
The statement noted that MCPS plans to comply with a recently adopted Maryland law requiring anti-bias training beginning in August, but JCRC said additional training specifically focused on antisemitism is also needed.
JCRC also welcomed efforts to expand participation in its Student to Student and Holocaust speakers programs and said the district is drafting new guidelines for culture and international nights to ensure they remain educational and inclusive.
The organization further urged MCPS to address online harassment involving students, even on social media accounts not formally connected to schools, saying principals have the authority to enforce disciplinary measures in those cases.
“We are pleased to work every day with MCPS administrators like Dr. Taylor who share JCRC’s commitment to ensuring a safe and welcoming school environment for Jewish and non-Jewish students alike,” Siegel said.
