\u201cTo create an antisemitism prevention coordinator \u2014 which represents about 5% of the student population in California \u2014 with a substantive charge to address hate against the Jewish community, while relegating all other minority groups to coordinators based on general categories is a lopsided approach,\u201d Mokeddem said.<\/p>\n
The law has been heavily modified as it works its way through the halls of Sacramento. Earlier versions mandated instructional materials on Jews, Israel and the Israel-Palestine conflict, which have since been removed from the bill\u2019s language. The bill also does not define antisemitism. Instead, the law looks to a strategy<\/a> from the Biden administration as a means to identify, respond to, prevent and counter antisemitism.<\/p>\n Under the law, if a school is found to be in violation of existing anti-discrimination laws involving antisemitism, it would be required to implement an improvement plan developed in consultation with the antisemitism prevention coordinator and use alternative instructional materials.<\/p>\n At Wednesday\u2019s meeting of the state Senate Committee on Education, some lawmakers voiced concern that the bill was being rushed through the legislative process.<\/p>\n \u201cWe only received the new language for this bill last night at about 6 o\u2019clock,\u201d state Sen. Steven Choi, R-Los Angeles, said. \u201cUltimately, I wonder if we should be supporting such big changes to this bill when the public has had less than 24 hours to read the new language.\u201d<\/p>\n Choi said he struggled with whether to support the measure, but ultimately decided to vote yes.<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when antisemitism and other forms of hate are rising across our nation, it is vital that our schools are equipped to respond with both clarity and compassion,\u201d Choi said.<\/p>\n From 2015 to 2024, reported hate crime events increased<\/a> 141.7% in California, according to the state\u2019s Department of Justice. Out of all religious-based hate crimes in the state, Jewish people reported experiencing the vast majority during that time.<\/p>\n Despite this surge, California was recently named the top state for fighting antisemitism in a report by the Anti-Defamation League, receiving a score of 94.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n California Jewish groups welcomed the bill\u2019s passage in the state\u2019s education committee. \u201cThis is a pivotal step forward toward safer, more inclusive classrooms for all students,\u201d the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California wrote in a press release.<\/p>\n KQED\u2019s <\/em>Juan Carlos Lara<\/em><\/a> contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.kqed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/09\/StevenChoi_qed.jpg\")