(Los Angeles, CA – January 22, 2026) – The StandWithUs Data & Analytics department has conducted the first academic study of antisemitism faced by American Jewish educators in K-12 public and non-Jewish private schools. Modeled on two peer-reviewed studies of Jewish medical professionals published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine and the Journal of Religion and Health, this new research sheds light on the bigotry many Jewish teachers, administrators, counselors, and other staff are experiencing in their schools and unions. The results underscore an urgent need for education about the Jewish community and antisemitism in the K-12 education system.
The IRB-approved study surveyed 584 self-identified Jewish educators. It found that:
- 61.6% of participants reported personally experiencing or witnessing antisemitism in professional environments.
- Nearly half (45.5%) of participants were exposed to antisemitism from teachers unions.
- Out of the 65% of participants who said they are required to take anti-bias trainings in their school or district, only 10% reported that those trainings include content about antisemitism.
Dr. Alexandra Fishman, Director of the StandWithUs Data & Analytics department, oversaw the study’s methodology and analyzed the results.
“This first-of-its-kind empirical study sought to understand antisemitism experienced by Jewish educators in K-12 education. Over 60% of respondents reporting that they personally experienced or witnessed antisemitism in their profession is an astounding number,” Dr. Fishman said. “StandWithUs is deeply committed to rigorous research that serves both academic and lay audiences. While this study is being prepared for peer-review, we are releasing some results now because Jewish educators cannot wait for academic publishing timelines to address the discrimination they face daily in our schools.”
Alyson Brauning, Interim Chair of the National Education Association (NEA) Jewish Affairs Caucus said, “as a Jewish public school educator, these findings, while disturbing, do not come as a shock. They reveal a serious disconnect between stated commitments to equity and the lived realities of Jewish educators. Antisemitism—whether overt or subtle—continues to shape workplace environments in ways that undermine safety, belonging, and professional participation. This data makes clear that meaningful change is long overdue.”
Because the survey was conducted with a convenience sample, it may not fully represent the demographic of Jewish educators in the United States, affecting its generalizability. However, given the challenges of identifying and accessing Jewish educators, convenience sampling through community networks represents a practical and appropriate strategy for this exploratory study. The results clearly point to an urgent need to fight antisemitism in K-12 education, as well as more robust research to better understand the problem.
“We have seen an antisemitism crisis unfold since the October 7th Massacre,” said David Smokler, Executive Director of the StandWithUs K-12 Fairness Center. “Far too many Jewish educators work in hostile environments, with far too little support from their administrators or unions. This harms not only Jews, but entire school communities and the students they serve. It is time for school districts, schools of education, government agencies, and teachers unions to wake up and start rebuilding trust in our education system.”
The full study will be submitted to an academic journal for peer-review, with additional results to be published in the coming months.
The following people may be available for interviews about the study upon request:
- Dr. Alexandra Fishman, Director of Data & Analytics
- David Smokler, Executive Director of the K-12 Fairness Center
- Alyson Brauning, Interim Chair of the National Education Association (NEA) Jewish Affairs Caucus
About the Study:
This study, conducted in 2025, surveyed 584 Jewish K-12 educators across the U.S. The methodology was led by Alexandra C. Fishman PhD, MA, LMSW and Director of the Data & Analytics Department at StandWithUs. The study is IRB approved through WCG IRB through Yeshiva University. Charles Auerbach PhD, MSW and Professor of Social Work at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work is a co-investigator in this study.
The study was reviewed by the StandWithUs K-12 Fairness Center and Research & Strategy Department, including Daniel Rubin, PhD and Senior Lecturer of Education (Research) at University of Derby.
Distribution of the study was led by the StandWithUs K-12 Fairness Center and Research & Strategy Department. Partners who helped distribute the survey include the National Education Association Jewish Affairs Caucus (NEA JAC), California Teachers Association Jewish Affairs Caucus (CTA JAC), New York City Public School (NYCPS) Alliance, Massachusetts Educators Against Antisemitism (MEAA), Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Bay Area, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, Israeli American Council (IAC), Bay Area Jewish Coalition (BAJC), and the Jewish Community Action Network (JCAN). The survey was also distributed outside of existing networks, using social media ads.
Additional StandWithUs Data & Analytics Department publications related to antisemitism in education include the RealClearEducation article, “Antisemitism Has a Campus Problem.”
Are you a K-12 educator looking for help?
- To report an antisemitic incident, click here.
- To connect with our K-12 Fairness Center, click here.
