National Education Association perpetuated anti-semitic environment, denied Jewish educators leadership opportunities, according to New EEOC charge by Brandeis Center. The charge alleges that the NEA violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and allowed anti-Semitism to spread in K-12 schools Washington, D.C. - The Louis D. Brandeis Center Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism, Inc. filed a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the National Education Association (NEA), asserting that the nation's largest union of over three million members has subjected Jewish members to discriminatory practices in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At a time when anti-Semitism in schools has reached an all-time high, the charge explains that the NEA has perpetuated hostile environments for Jewish members in the union, in the NEA's state and local affiliates, and in the workplace, resulting in the spread of anti-Semitism throughout K-12 public schools. The Brandeis Center urges the EEOC to investigate these practices, hold the NEA accountable, and enact corrective action to ensure equal treatment and a non-discriminatory environment for all NEA members. According to the complaint, the NEA's discriminatory policies have materially limited the ability of Jewish members to fully participate in the NEA and has denied them opportunities for leadership, mentorship, governance, and training. The NEA's written policies require the use of unlawful racial and ethnic classifications and preferences to exclude members, and as many Jewish members do not fit into one of the NEA's preferred minority categories - the NEA classifies them as "white" - they are excluded from governance positions and deprived of other NEA benefits. The NEA policies also require its state and local affiliates to allocate benefits to their members based on the same racial and ethnic classifications, and the NEA's use of race and ethnicity in decision-making contributes to the hostile environment faced by its Jewish members. The NEA's policies allow and encourage discrimination against Jewish NEA members and erase Jewish members' identity and shared ancestry, leading to Jewish NEA members being harassed and intimidated by other members in the presence of NEA leadership without intervention. The policies' promotion and tolerance of anti-Semitism contribute to the spread of false narratives and anti-Semitic tropes throughout the public education system, thus harming Jewish children and teachers. The charge documents several incidents of anti-Semitic discrimination, harassment, and intimidation at the NEA's 2025 Representative Assembly (RA): * Jewish delegates were physically surrounded and shouted at by anti-Israel advocates. * When a Jewish delegate at the RA referenced the murder of an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor in the Boulder, Colorado anti-Semitic attack, her comment was met with clapping and laughter by other delegates. * Anti-Israel delegates at the RA physically intimidated and disrupted the Jewish Affairs Caucus when the Executive Chair tried to speak to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Caucus. * The NEA removed metal detectors and reduced security at the event despite reports by Jewish members of intimidation and harassment and a realistic fear of violence. The NEA took other recent actions that contribute to the hostile environment against Jewish members: * The NEA's handbook removed Jews as the primary victims of the Holocaust. * The NEA distributed a map to all members that erased the State of Israel, instead labeling the entire territory as "Palestine." Despite repeated notice, the NEA has failed to take action to address the harassment and discrimination against its Jewish members. The exclusion, intimidation of Jewish members and erasure of Jewish identity has caused Jewish educators to leave their unions and places of employment. In response, this charge asks the EEOC to investigate the practices, require the NEA to cease and desist from unlawful conduct, and to implement immediate corrective measures which allow all members of the NEA to fully participate without being subjected to harassment or discrimination. "The NEA's conduct is both completely illegal and morally unjustifiable. All educators, regardless of their ethnicity, deserve a safe workplace and support from the people whose job it is to protect them. In this case, the hostile, anti-Semitic environment propagated by the NEA is not confined to the union; it touches every school and every classroom in which an NEA member works," said Hon. Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center and the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education who ran the Office of Civil Rights during two administrations. "This is exactly the type of discrimination against which Title VII was designed to protect. And by fighting to protect our NEA members from bigotry, we're also fighting to protect our children from an environment that allows discrimination and anti-Semitic tropes. Unions are supposed to protect their members' rights. The NEA is actually violating them." The Brandeis Center has helped Jews change discriminatory practices at Microsoft and the New York Legal Aid Group's union. They have also secured major settlements with UC Berkeley, Pomona College, the Nysmith School, and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys. One such settlement was the precedent-setting agreements with Harvard University, leading to Harvard implementing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of anti-Semitism, and recognizing the centrality of Zionism to Jewish identity. In addition, the Brandeis Center reached a landmark agreement with Unilever over Ben & Jerry's attempt to boycott Israel, marking one of the largest defeats for the BDS movement. About the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law is an independent, unaffiliated, nonprofit corporation established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. LDB engages in research, education, and legal advocacy to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campuses, in the workplace, and elsewhere. It empowers students by training them to understand their legal rights and educates administrators and employers on best practices to combat racism and anti-Semitism. The Brandeis Center is not affiliated with the Massachusetts university, the Kentucky law school, or any of the other institutions that share the name and honor the memory of the late U.S. Supreme Court justice.

Event recap: kids Belong in Classrooms virtual town hall. In these unprecedented times, where ICE, DEA, FBI, and other federal agencies roam our streets targeting our Black and Brown neighbors, parents, and caregivers are scared for themselves, their children, and their communities. Schools should be spaces where children feel safe and free to express themselves without the fear of federal agents taking them or their families. As parents, educators, community members, and allies, we have a shared responsibility to build classrooms that are truly welcoming for all students. As of 2023, there are an estimated 5 million children in the U.S. with at least one undocumented family member[1]. A 2025 study by Stanford University shows a 22% decrease in attendance by students in California during the time of increased ICE presence[2]. In Chicago, where there has been a large increase in the number of ICE agents, schools are reporting an almost 2% decrease in student attendance over the past few months[3]. The data proves that the presence of federal agents in our communities is distrupting the education of our children. On September 25, MomsRising partnered with Community Change, Move On, the National Education Association, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance for "Kids Belong in Classrooms," a virtual town hall to hear from advocates, parents, and educators from across the country, share tools, and explore ways to build solidarity and foster safe learning environments. As part of the event, MomsRising provided educational and community resources: * Community Protection & Mutual Aid Toolkit: Learn quiet strategies for safety, including coded language systems, Safety planning, and school observation logs in both English and Spanish. * Defining & Disrupting Hostile Environments: Understanding the key features of hostile school climates and practical ways to counter them. (English) * National Mutual Aid Resource List: A list of local and national mutual aid and immigrant support organizations and resources in both English and Spanish. * Supporting Immigrant Students and Families in Hostile Environments Virtual Teach-In Video. (English) [2] [3] https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5588324-chicago-dhs-ice-raids-school-attendance/

Big tech is paying millions to train teachers on AI, in a push to bring chatbots into classrooms. SAN ANTONIO (AP) - On a scorching hot Saturday in San Antonio, dozens of teachers traded a day off for a glimpse of the future. The topic of the day's workshop: enhancing instruction with artificial intelligence. Find your place in Maine. From working waterfronts to small-town traditions, stay connected to the Maine you know and love. With trusted local stories, we bring you closer to the people, places, and rhythms that make this state feel like home. After marveling as AI graded classwork instantly and turned lesson plans into podcasts or online storybooks, one high school English teacher raised a concern that was on the minds of many: "Are we going to be replaced with AI?" That remains to be seen. But for the nation's 4 million teachers to stay relevant and help use students the technology wisely, teachers unions have forged an unlikely partnership with the world's largest technology companies. The two groups don't always see eye to eye but say they share a common goal: training the future workforce of America. Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic are providing millions of dollars for AI training to the American Federation of Teachers, the country's second-largest teachers union. In exchange, the tech companies have an opportunity to make inroads into schools and win over students in the race for dominance AI. AFT President Randi Weingarten said skepticism guided her negotiations, but the tech industry has something schools lack: deep pockets. "There is no one else who is helping us with this. That's why we felt we needed to work with the largest corporations in the world," Weingarten said. "We went to them - they didn't come to us." Weingarten first met with Microsoft CEO Brad Smith in 2023 to discuss a partnership. She later reached out to OpenAI to pursue an "agnostic" approach that means any company's AI tools could be used in a training session. Under the arrangement announced in July, Microsoft is contributing $12.5 million to AFT over five years. OpenAI is providing $8 million in funding and $2 million in technical resources, and Anthropic has offered $500,000. Tech money will build an AI training hub for teachers With the money, AFT is planning to build an AI training hub in New York City that will offer virtual and in-person workshops for teachers. The goal is to open at least two more hubs and train 400,000 teachers over the next five years. The National Education Association, the country's largest teachers union, announced its own partnership with Microsoft last month. The company has provided a $325,000 grant to help the NEA develop AI trainings in the form of "microcredentials" - online trainings open to the union's 3 million members, said Daaiyah Bilal, NEA's senior director of education policy. The goal is to train at least 10,000 members this school year. "We tailored our partnership very surgically," Bilal said. "We are very mindful of what a technology company stands to gain by spreading information about the products they develop." Both unions set similar terms: Educators, not the private funders, would design and lead trainings that include AI tools from multiple companies. The unions own the intellectual property for the trainings, which cover safety and privacy concerns alongside AI skills. The Trump administration has encouraged the companies investment, recently creating an AI Education Task Force as part of an effort to achieve "global dominance in artificial intelligence." The federal government urged tech companies and other organizations to foot the bill. So far, more than private 100 have signed up. Tech companies see opportunities in education beyond training teachers. Microsoft unveiled a $4 billion initiative for AI training, research and the gifting of its AI tools to teachers and students. It includes the AFT grant and a program that will give all school districts and community colleges in Washington, Microsoft's home state, free access to Microsoft CoPilot tools. Google says it will commit $1 billion for AI education and job training programs, including free access to its Gemini for Education platform for U.S. high schools. Several recent studies have found that AI use in schools is increasing rapidly but training and guidance are lagging. The industry offers resources that can help scale AI literacy efforts quickly. But educators should ensure any partnership focuses on what's best for teachers and students, said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education. "These are private initiatives, and they are run by companies that have a stake," Lake said. Microsoft CEO Brad Smith agrees that teachers should have a "healthy dose of skepticism" about the role of tech companies. "While it's easy to see the benefits right now, we should always be mindful of the potential for unintended consequences," Smith said in an interview, pointing to concerns such as AI's possible impact on critical thinking. "We have to be careful. It's early days." At the San Antonio AFT training, about 50 educators turned up for the three-hour workshop for teachers in the Northside Independent School District. It is the city's largest, employing about 7,000 teachers. "We all know, when we talk about AI, teachers say, 'Nah, I'm not doing that,'" trainer Kathleen Torregrossa told the room. "But we are preparing kids for the future. That is our primary job. And AI, like it or not, is part of our world." Attendees generated lesson plans using ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot and two AI tools designed for schools, Khanmingo and Colorín Colorado. Gabriela Aguirre, a 1st grade dual language teacher, repeatedly used the word "amazing" to describe what she saw. "It can save you so much time," she said, and add visual flair to lessons. She walked away with a plan to use AI tools to make illustrated flashcards in English and Spanish to teach vocabulary. "With all the video games, the cellphones you have to compete against, the kids are always saying, 'I'm bored.' Everything is boring," Aguirre said. "If you can find ways to engage them with new technology, you've just got to do that." Middle school teacher Celeste Simone said there is no turning back to how she taught before. As a teacher for English language learners, Simone can now ask AI tools to generate pictures alongside vocabulary words and create illustrated storybooks that use students' names as characters. She can take a difficult reading passage and ask a chatbot to translate it into Spanish, Pashto or other languages. And she can ask AI to rewrite difficult passages at any grade level to match her students' reading levels. All in a matter of seconds. "I can give my students access to things that never existed before," Simone said. "As a teacher, once you've used it and see how helpful it is, I don't think I could go back to the way I did things before." The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.