Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 715, a bill to strengthen protections against antisemitism in K-12 schools across California, which establishes a new state Office of Civil Rights and creates an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator to help develop training, review complaints, advise school districts, and recommend policy changes.
California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 715, which aims to combat antisemitism in K-12 schools by establishing an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator and strengthening protections for Jewish students, but it has also generated opposition from some interfaith groups and civil liberties advocates who warn that it risks conflating political criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
The CA Coalition to Defend Public Education is urging state senators to reject AB 715, a bill that would give the state too much control over what is taught in classrooms and could potentially harm free speech and academic freedom.
AB 715, a bill that aims to prevent discrimination in K-12 education, has been criticized for its potential to empower third parties with anonymous claims of discrimination and for appointing a state-funded, state-authorized antisemitic curriculum czar to oversee the entire state school curriculum.