The Trump administration launched an investigation into New York City’s Department of Education on Thursday over allegations that radical teachers are infecting students with antisemitic ideas.
The US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights announced the probe following complaints about a group called NYC Educators for Palestine pushing anti-Israel lessons on young students that discriminate against Jewish children.
“No child should be taught by his or her teachers to hate their peers,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey.
“Neither should Jewish children be taught that being Jewish somehow makes them inherently guilty or proponents of hate and violence.”
The ultra-progressive group of Big Apple teachers has promoted a series of seminars focused on “Palestine, Zionism and Resistance,” federal officials said.
The complaints received by the Trump administration outlined claims that the teachers are bashing Zionism while touting Palestinian resistance, federal education officials said.
NYC Educators for Palestine held a “Teach-In for Palestine” on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for students as young as 6, with the city’s Department of Education distancing itself from the controversial program at the time, insisting it was not a school-sanctioned event.
The radical group has also encouraged teachers “to take time out of the school day to discuss what is happening in Palestine,” even if it’s during “advisory” or “elective” periods.
“The intention is to find ways to integrate teaching of Palestinian history and culture in some form this week,” the May 12, 2025, post on social media read.
“Take time this week to uplift the beautiful culture and history of a people who have remained steadfast in their fight for dignity and survival,” it continued.
There have been numerous instances of hostility toward Jewish and Israeli students and teachers since Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the Jewish state that led to the conflict in Gaza.
The New York City DOE did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.