86 percent of parents surveyed support antisemitism education, 88 percent support Holocaust education; 52 percent think Holocaust education should be mandatory
New York, NY, December 23, 2024 … Seventy-one percent of Jewish parents and 37 percent of non-Jewish parents surveyed reported that their child witnessed or experienced antisemitism in K-12 classrooms or through course materials, according to a survey released today by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Center for Antisemitism Research (CAR). This represents more than a third of all parents.
These findings are part of a new ADL survey on attitudes of US adults and parents about K-12 education, which also found that more Jewish than non-Jewish parents reported their child experienced or witnessed antisemitic incidents in schools. These discrepancies highlight that Jewish students are more likely to report being targeted by and noticing antisemitism.
The findings also reveal a strong correlation between students' access to Holocaust and antisemitism education and their ability to recognize antisemitic incidents when they occur. In fact, parents whose children did not have access to antisemitism education were 46 percent less likely to report awareness of antisemitic bias on campus. This suggests that the reported rates of antisemitic or anti-Israel incidents are likely underestimated.
“Antisemitism in K-12 schools is an urgent national concern,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “This escalation highlights the pivotal moment we’re in and the urgent need for Holocaust and antisemitism education. The time to act is now; future generations need to be equipped to prevent, recognize and address antisemitism.”
Although most of those surveyed were public-school parents, a significant proportion were parents of K-12 students in private and charter schools. Just last week, ADL expressed concern about antisemitic remarks at a recent conference of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and that Jewish students and faculty attending the conference were subjected to a hostile environment.
CAR research further reveals that 86 percent of parents surveyed support offering antisemitism education, whether optional or mandatory, in their local school districts, and 88 percent support K-12 Holocaust education. Moreover, 52 percent of parents believe Holocaust education should be mandatory.
Despite this broad public backing, there is a significant gap in educational offerings. Currently, only 21 percent of parents report that their child’s school provides antisemitism education, and 30 percent have access to Holocaust education, with 15 percent receiving both.
These findings underscore the urgent need for school districts and policymakers to address the disconnect between public support and implementation. The ADL Ronald Birnbaum Center to Combat Antisemitism in Education (CCAE) is asking education leaders to take concrete steps to:
- Integrate Antisemitism Awareness into Anti-Bias and Non-Discrimination Programs.
- Mandate Holocaust and Genocide Education.
- Eliminate Bias in Educational Materials.
- Establish Strong Reporting Systems
Antisemitism is increasingly affecting younger populations as evidenced by the latest ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which recorded 1,162 antisemitic incidents in non-Jewish schools in 2023, up from 495 incidents in 2022 - a 135% increase. This surge reflects a broad trend across educational settings, public and private alike, as shown in this new study.
CAR is furthering investigating these alarming initial findings with several planned future studies designed to hone in more precisely on these results.
Methodology
In October 2024, CAR conducted a nationally representative survey of 817 American adults through the Ipsos Observer panel to understand views on antisemitism and Holocaust education, perceptions of anti-Jewish and other forms of prejudice in local school districts, and, in the case of parents, their child’s experience with antisemitism at school and in course materials. Respondents completed the Qualtrics-based online survey over a weeklong period, with fielding opening on Oct. 8 and closing on Oct. 16. The sample was balanced to match 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) benchmarks across race, ethnicity, age, and education level.
Of the 817 adults surveyed, 223 (27%) were parents of at least one current K-12 student. 96 (11.8%) of all respondents were Jewish. The margin of error for the survey was +/-4.2%.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.