On February 20, major Jewish organizations announced that the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) had agreed to settle a lawsuit filed over its introduction of ethnic studies courses developed secretly and containing antisemitic content.
As part of the settlement, SAUSD will halt the instruction of Ethnic Studies World Geography, Ethnic Studies World Histories, and Ethnic Studies: Perspectives, Identities, and Social Justice, until they are redesigned with public input in compliance with California’s open meeting laws.
The courses contained harmful and false narratives about Israel and the Jewish people. Antisemitic content will be removed from Ethnic Studies World Histories, which can continue only for the remainder of the school year.
SAUSD has also agreed to recognize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a controversial issue and strictly follow two policies—Board Policy 6144 and Administrative Regulation 6144—ensuring that teaching on such topics is fact-based, impartial, and allows for alternative views. These policies require teachers to separate opinion from fact, present all sides of controversial issues impartially, and refrain from using the classroom to promote personal views.
Additionally, the SAUSD Ethnic Studies Steering Committee will be disbanded permanently, and the district will stop collaborating with the external consultant who expressed antisemitic views. SAUSD will also allow for meaningful public input before any new courses are presented for Board approval.
L.A. happening now – the “Free Palestine” mob is targeting Jewish UC Regent and UTA Talent Exec Jay Sures at his home, openly threatening him.
This is NOT a protest but rather clear and targeted modern day Nazi intimidation of Jews.
Where are you, @MayorOfLA? pic.twitter.com/jRIQKNpT5r
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) February 5, 2025
The lawsuit, filed in 2024 by the Brandeis Center, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), alleged that SAUSD violated California’s open meeting laws in approving these biased courses. The Jewish organizations uncovered antisemitic statements through depositions, emails, text messages, and other documents, including Steering Committee members making derogatory remarks about Jews, advocating against their inclusion in ethnic studies, and promoting anti-Israel bias.
The case was supported by legal counsel from Covington & Burling LLP and StandWithUs, ensuring that the district’s curriculum development process will be more transparent.
