In response to complaints, the Department of Education has launched investigations into seven educational institutions, marking the first of its kind since the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel. The investigations, initiated under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, focus on alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia, with five cases related to antisemitism and two to Islamophobia.
The schools under investigation include the Maize Unified School District in Kansas, a K-12 institution, and six colleges: Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, Cornell University and Columbia University in New York, Wellesley College in Massachusetts, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, and the University of Pennsylvania.
The Risk Losing Federal Funding
The Department of Education has notified the schools about the investigations, and they risk losing federal funding if found non-compliant. The investigations aim to uphold Title VI, which mandates educational environments free from discrimination, and anyone can file a complaint under this provision.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of creating safe and inclusive environments, stating, “Hate has no place in our schools, period. When students are targeted because they are—or are perceived to be—Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn.”
The rise in tension over the Israel-Hamas conflict has impacted college campuses, evident in a Cornell University student facing federal charges for threatening Jewish students online. The University of Pennsylvania also reported threatening antisemitic emails, prompting them to alert the FBI.
The Department of Education Issued Guidance
To address discrimination incidents, the Department of Education issued guidance earlier this month, emphasizing the legal obligation of educational institutions to address discrimination, including against those who are Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian. The discrimination complaint form was updated to extend protection under Title VI to students perceived to be Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or based on other shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.
Department officials are actively engaging with K-12 school leaders in listening sessions this week to understand how they are ensuring students’ safety amid the Israel-Hamas conflict aftermath. Additionally, a webinar series is scheduled to launch in December, aiming to assist school personnel and community-based organizations in developing strategies to prevent and respond to hate-based threats, bullying, and harassment. The Department’s commitment to fostering inclusive educational environments remains a top priority as these investigations unfold.
