8.61—ANTISEMITISM PROHIBITED

“Antisemitism” means a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are
directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Antisemitism may be expressed in speech; writing; visual forms; and actions, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

The following are examples of actions, when taken as a whole, that may constitute antisemitism:
· The targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity;
· Charging Jews with conspiring to harm humanity;
· Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion;
· Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions;
· Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews;
· Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust);
· Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust;
· Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations;
· Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor;
· Applying double standards by requiring of Israel a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation;
· Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis;
· Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis; or
· Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
Antisemitism does not include criticism of Israel similar to the criticism leveled against any other country.

Discrimination and harassment based on antisemitism is expressly prohibited.

The District shall appoint an individual to act as the District’s Title VI Coordinator, who shall be responsible for investigating any complaints of discrimination or harassment based on antisemitism. The District shall:
1\. Include contact information for the Title VI Coordinator in information that is provided to staff, students, and parents; and
2\. Provide the following on the District website that may be accessed through a link titled “Antisemitism/Title VI”:

1. 
   
2. The District’s definition of antisemitism;
   
3. A statement that antisemitism is prohibited in the District’s educational programs and activities;
   
4. A statement that complaints of discrimination or harassment based on antisemitism may be filed with the Title VI Coordinator;
   
5. Contact information for the District’s Title VI Coordinator; and
   
6. Information on how to file a complaint of antisemitism with the Title VI Coordinator at the Arkansas Department of Education.
   

A student or a student’s parent may contact the District Title VI Coordinator directly with any complaints of discrimination or harassment based on antisemitism. District employees are responsible for timely notifying the District Title VI Coordinator of any complaints they receive or incidents they witness of discrimination or harassment based on antisemitism.

Complaints of discrimination or harassment based on antisemitism shall be investigated and handled in accordance with Policy 6.7—COMPLAINTS.

An employee who is found to have violated the provitions of this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

The District Title VI Coordinator shall report an incident or complaint of discrimination or harassment under this policy to the Arkansas Department of Education Title VI Coordinator.

In addition to the filing of a complaint under this policy, complaints of discrimination or harassment based on antisemitism may be submitted directly to the Title VI Coordinator at the Arkansas Department of Education.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, §§ 4, 6, and 24\.


Cross Reference: 6.7—COMPLAINTS


Legal Reference: A.C.A. § 6-16-2001 et seq.


Date Adopted: June 9, 2025
Last Revised:

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