West OC Times

Representative Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) have called for an investigation into allegations of antisemitism within the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD). The request was made in a letter sent to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

The letter urges the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to investigate whether violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act have occurred. "We request that the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) open an investigation into these incidents to determine whether violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (Title VI) have occurred," wrote Foxx and Steel. They cited actions by the SAUSD Ethnic Studies Steering Committee, which allegedly excluded Jewish community members from participating in curriculum development.

The letter also mentions text messages between senior SAUSD officials discussing strategies to approve courses during Jewish holidays, thereby preventing Jewish community members from attending. One official reportedly stated, "We may need to use Passover to get all new courses approved," with another replying, "[T]hat’s actually a good strategy." Additionally, there were discussions about meetings with the Jewish Federation of Orange County where a leader referred to concerns about caving "to the racist Zionists."

"Ongoing litigation has already revealed an alarming pattern of antisemitism at the highest levels of the SAUSD," continued Foxx and Steel in their letter. They emphasized that certain individuals appeared to hide their prejudiced motives and called for a formal OCR investigation to ensure accountability under federal law.

The representatives expressed hope for collaboration on this issue to enforce protections under the Civil Rights Act so that all students feel welcome.

To read the full letter, click here.