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PARENTS BECOMING ENGAGED AND INVOLVED:

Curriculum: At the beginning of the year, review your student’s curricula and continue to monitor it throughout the school year. Look through their books and Google Classroom. Take a vested interest in their class notes and assignments. Regularly ask your child what they are learning in school and make sure they know that you will advocate for them if any lessons or learning materials make them feel uncomfortable. 

Attend PTA, CEC, CCHS, SLT, and PEP Meetings: Attend PTA (Parent Teacher Association) meetings. As a student's parent, you are automatically a member of the PTA. Listening during the meetings and showing presence (not to mention speaking up) are helpful! You can also attend CEC/CCHS (Community Education Council/Citywide Council on High Schools - District level) meetings. The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) is a 24-member, voting body overseeing New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and is comprised of community leaders across every neighborhood and borough of New York City. From former educators and principals to advocates and specialists in their field, the Panel is committed to representing the diversity of voice and opinion within New York City school communities and promoting equity in education. PEP Meeting schedule and parent sign-up.

 

Consider Running for a PTA, SLT (both parents and teachers) or CEC/CCHS:

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA): The PTA supports schools by advocating for students and families, keeping parents updated about school events, and planning and running various activities for both parents and families. Additionally, PTAs can enhance school communities through hosting parent workshops, organizing academic and social events, raising funds, and coordinating volunteer opportunities.

School Leadership Team (SLT): The SLT is a group of parents and teachers who develop educational policies for their school. They also make sure there are resources to support those policies.

 

Community Education Council (CEC) and Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS): CECs and CCHS are education policy advisory bodies responsible for, among other things, reviewing and evaluating their district’s educational programs, approving zoning lines and holding public hearings on certain matters. There are 32 CECs in NYC, one for each Community School District. Each CEC represents current Pre-K through 8th-grade students in DOE schools within its district. The CCHS is an advisory body concerned with the education of high school students. 

 

Each CEC holds a monthly meeting, and it is imperative for parents to attend, make public comments and ask questions about antisemitism. You can also get involved by contacting your CEC members to help draft resolutions. Some potential topics to address include:

• The IHRA definition of antisemitism Working definition of IHRA - we MUST demand the adoption of IHRA. Many school leaders do not know how to define antisemitism, especially if it is masked as “anti-Zionism”

• Enforcement of relevant regulations - including Chancellor’s Regulations and Title VI civil rights 

• Clarifications on the limitations of free speech, particularly in schools

• The fact that teachers do not have unrestricted free speech rights in educational settings

• Complaints about disruptions to student learning, such as Title VI violations

• Appeals to restore order in schools and discipline staff members who engage in unauthorized activities during school hours or on or near school grounds

• Requests for educational content that is factually accurate, distinguishing between fact and opinion

Your participation and input can help ensure that these important issues are addressed effectively.

 

Connect with other Parents/Families at the school: Chat with other parents and families in your school, zone, or district. Form a WhatsApp or similar group to get support and ideas. 

 

Clubs: For the higher grades, such as high school, students may form or participate in a Jewish group or club, such as a Jewish Student Union or Affinity Group. 

 

Reach Out to City, State and Federal Elected Officials: Your advocacy can drive the implementation of effective policies and educational programs to address and prevent antisemitism in K-12 schools, ensuring that Jewish students are protected and respected.

 

Steps to Make Schools More Welcoming: 

 

Jewish Holidays and Beyond: Request to read a book to your child’s class. Book suggestions by grade groupings are here: 

PreK3 - 1st grade     2nd - 3rd grade     4th - 5th grade

 

Adding Books to your School or Classroom Libraries: The books above and many other wonderful books can be beautiful additions to a school’s library or classroom’s book collection. Consider donating a book to your school.  

 

Bulletin Boards & Jewish American Heritage Month:

• When bulletin boards include cultural, religious, or ethnic information, bring material or request that similar material about the Jewish people is included. Include references to the many contributions of Jewish thinkers and doers throughout history.  

• Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is every May. Print a poster and ask to hang it on a school bulletin. For extra credit, also print one for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! 

 

Events and Celebrations: Request to include Jewish representation, when the school has holiday celebrations or other events.

 

REPORTING ANTISEMITISM 

 

What Can Antisemitism Look Like: This includes incidents, educational resources/curriculum and antisemitism in NYC public schools communications. What might seem like a one-off or random occurrence can be antisemitism. Whether you or your child are the only ones affected or you know of others who have experienced similar occurrences, it is important to recognize what has happened and report it, anonymously if necessary. Please refer to these helpful links from the AJC, the National Education Association’s Jewish Affairs Caucus, the U.S. Dept. of Education and The Department of State, which has used IRHA since 2012.

 

PARENTS - Please be sure to Follow All Three Steps:

(To simplify things, you can use the same statement for each step)

 

1. Report to NYCPSA

 

2. Report Incidents via the NYC DOE:

• Identify the Issue: Document the details of the antisemitic incident, including the date, time, and any witnesses.

• For guidance and support: Please reach out to NYCPA at nycpsalliance@gmail.com. We understand that navigating this process can be challenging, and we’re here to assist you every step of the way.

• Report the Incident using the guidelines provided based on the Chancellor’s Regulations. If you miss the deadline, you can still submit your report through various methods, however, Reporting right away is still the best option. 

• Please see the full regulation (A-830 or A-832) below for more information. 

• Follow-up: Keep track of your report’s status and follow up if you do not receive a response within a reasonable timeframe.

 

Parents/Teachers

Parents/Teachers

A-830 Non- Discrimination - ADULT TO STUDENT

1. Report to the principal within ONE (1) SCHOOL DAY of knowledge of awareness of the incident. 

2. Within two (2) school days of making the oral report, the reporting DOE employee also must electronically file a written complaint. If the allegation is against the principal or supervisor, the reporting DOE employee need only electronically file a complaint. 

3. Individuals other than those who are required to file are strongly encouraged to report conduct that may violate this regulation using the online form.

 

A-832 STUDENT TO STUDENT Non-Discrimination

1. Report the alleged act to the RFA liaison(s) or the principal/designee within one (1) school day and submit the form describing the incident to the RFA liaison or the principal/designee no later than two (2) school days after making the verbal report. 

2. The principal/designee must enter all reports into the DOE’s Online Occurrence Reporting System (“OORS”) within one (1) school day of receipt of the report and promptly investigate.

3. The principal/designee must advise the parent(s) of the alleged victim and the accused student of the allegations whenever a report is received and should advise them that the incident will be investigated (no later than 5 days after receipt of the report)  and of the availability of appropriate supports and interventions no later than 2 days following receipt of the report. 

 

If a student or parent has concerns about making a report to the school, the student/parent may contact the Office of Safety and Youth Development (“OSYD”) by emailing the report to RespectforAll@schools.nyc.gov. 

A-832 Reporting Form

Online Student-to-Student Report

 

Chancellor's Regulations, Discipline Code, Parent’s Bill of Rights and other policies

 

In an email to school staff in November, Chancellor Banks urged educators to keep their personal political beliefs out of the classroom — and warned that even out-of-school political activity can violate city rules if it “disrupts … the school environment….When speech and action — even on one’s time — undermines the mission or core functions of NYCPS, we will review and take appropriate action on a case-by-case basis,” he wrote. Please see: Chancellor Regulation D-130 

 

Please refer to the following: Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student Learning Including the K–12 Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and the Discipline Code Grades K-5 Grades 6–12 

 

3. Report to ADL and Stand With Us (Physical, visual and verbal incidents)

 

EDUCATORS AND NYCPS STAFF MEMBERS - Please Follow these Steps:

1. Report the incident to your principal and or administration (appropriate liaison on the protocol list)

2. Fill out an incident report - OORS report in school (make a photocopy of the report and ask for a final copy and report # after it is filed usually by the Dean)

3. Educators and Staff members:  File a report with the UFT  

4. Educators and Staff members: Contact Christopher Verdone UFT - Safety Liaison and Victim Support Program Coordinator

5. You can also do the following:

• File a report for any student-to-student incident

• File a report for any incident involving staff 

• You can send an email to RespectForAll@schools.nyc.gov or call the P311 Bullying Support Line: 718-935-2288 ​(Monday-Friday from 8AM - 6PM)

• Log the incident with the NYCPSA  

• Report to ADL and Stand With Us (Physical, visual and verbal incidents)

 

The most important thing to remember when a person experiences any form of antisemitism, is to document it - take photos, collect the evidence and save lessons, work, assignments, etc. Document all correspondence regarding the issue at hand and ALWAYS ask for copies of any report you fill out. Stay on top of it and follow up. When writing emails to your principal and/or administration when reporting an incident, we encourage you to CC the Superintendent and even the Chancellor and DOE leadership for a quicker and hopefully, more efficient response.                            

 

This Guide and all relevant links (anything underlined) can be found on 

www.nycpsalliance.com and www.paanow.com