ADL poll finds 71% of Jewish parents ‘witnessed or experienced’ antisemitism at school or in course materials

A survey released today by the Anti-Defamation League finds that more than a third of all parents have “witnessed or experienced antisemitism” in K-12 classrooms or through course materials.

The vast majority (71 percent) of Jewish parents and 37% of non-Jewish parents surveyed say they or their child saw or were party to the discrimination.

Zooming in, the ADL survey finds that parents whose children did not have access to antisemitism education were 46% less likely to say they noticed awareness about antisemitic bias on school campuses, which the watchdog says could suggest that antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents are underreported.

“Antisemitism in K-12 schools is an urgent national concern,” ADL’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt says in a statement.

The poll also finds overwhelming support among parents — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — for Holocaust (89%) and antisemitism (84%) education.

A recent ADL audit recorded 1,162 antisemitic incidents in non-Jewish schools in 2023, up from 495 incidents in 2022, representing a 135% increase.

The poll was conducted in October via the Ipsos Observer platform. It surveyed 817 American adults, with a margin of error of 4.2%.