Overview

• The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated a Title VI investigation of Baltimore City Public Schools on August 7 after the Anti-Defamation League filed a complaint.
• The ADL complaint alleges BCPS allowed a teacher to threaten students with “go all Nazi” intimidation and to direct Nazi salutes at a Jewish pupil.
• The probe will examine reports of student harassment including swastika graffiti, Nazi salutes and threats that “all Jews should die,” which have left Jewish students afraid to walk school hallways.
• BCPS’s own review confirmed the teacher’s misconduct but resulted in no disciplinary action, allowing the educator to remain employed.
• Baltimore City Public Schools have pledged to foster a culture of respect, encourage reporting of harassment and cooperate with the federal inquiry, which could threaten the district’s funding.