Effectively addressing school-based antisemitism is a critical component of the JCRC’s work.
Our staff is here to support you and your children.
Please contact us if we can be of assistance at any point during the school year.
Please find more information below resources on advocating for your student.
What to do if your child has experienced a bullying or antisemitic incident at school:
- First, speak to your child’s teacher or guidance counselor at the school as soon as possible.
- If the matter is not satisfactorily explained or resolved in a timely manner, contact your school’s administrator (Assistant Principal or Principal)
- Submit A “Hate-Bias or Bullying Incident Report form” if your school district has one that is available.
- Report an incident of antisemitism to JShield so it can be tracked and tallied.
- At any time, please contact us for further guidance and assistance.
Responding to Hate-Bias
Antisemitic acts in schools are classified within schools as a form of hate bias or bullying. Check out your school district’s resources.
Maryland
In Maryland, call the Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line 833-MD-B-SAFE, an anonymous reporting system used to report threats to the safety and/or well-being of students.
Montgomery County
Virginia
Alexandria City
Arlington County
Fairfax County
Falls Church
Loudon County
Non-Discrimination Policy
Comment and Complaint Form
Prince William County
Washington, DC
Absences For Religious Observances
For Jewish Holidays, each school district in the Greater Washington area has a policy enabling your student to miss school without punitive damage. Here are links to the school districts' policies:
Maryland
Virginia
Washington, DC
What YOU can do to help make your child’s school a safer, more welcoming learning environment for ALL children:
The JCRC works year-round to promote mutually respectful school environments and to increase understanding of Jewish tradition, history and culture within school communities, both public and private. Encourage your school to:
- Bring in JCRC Student to Student (STS) program
- Host a Holocaust survivor or their descendent to speak to students
- Access the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) anti-bias tools & strategies, trainings and other teacher resources for the classroom.
What YOUR TEEN can do to take an active role in promoting mutual respect and combating antisemitism:
- Participate in the JCRC's Margo and Yoram Cohen Israel Engagement Fellowship - an intensive 8-week seminar for Jewish teens to learn and have thoughtful, nuanced conversations about Israel and antisemitism so they can confidently engage on these issues in college.
- Participate in our Student to Student program for 11th and 12th graders. STS teens speak to their high school peers about Jewish practices and what it’s like to be Jewish today, helping to break down stereotypes by putting a human face to members of the Jewish community.