MAJOR JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN CTA OPPOSITION TO AB 715 AND URGE BILL'S PASSAGE

SACRAMENTO, CA – JPAC and leading Jewish organizations across California are deeply disappointed by the California Teachers Association’s (CTA) hypocritical and misleading opposition to Assembly Bill 715 (Zbur, Addis) – a landmark bill to combat antisemitism in our schools. After years of dialogue, it is clear that CTA is either unwilling or unable to support meaningful protections for Jewish students, despite backing similar efforts to protect other communities. We urge CTA to reverse course, and we call on the Legislature to stand firmly with California’s Jewish students and advance this bill without delay.

As the representative of local teachers’ unions across some of California’s largest school districts, CTA’s opposition puts AB 715 – and the safety of Jewish students – at risk.

For years, the bill’s authors have engaged in good faith with CTA leadership to address their concerns. Last year, we narrowed and ultimately held the bill to allow for further collaboration. This year, at CTA's urging, we pivoted from addressing antisemitism in ethnic studies to a broader school-wide approach. Based on CTA’s feedback, we have since removed provisions, revised language, and narrowed the bill’s scope – all while staying focused on protecting Jewish students. But each time we meet CTA's demands, the goalposts move.

CTA’s recently released opposition letter is not only offensive – it is fundamentally hypocritical. They claim to oppose antisemitism yet reject any meaningful action to address it. They dismiss targeted protections for Jewish students on the grounds that it focuses on a single community – despite having recommended this approach themselves, and despite supporting similar efforts for other groups.

CTA's letter also misrepresents AB 715, attacking provisions that were already removed at their request. Instead of offering real solutions, they propose vague, universalist “restorative practices” and trainings to “create safe spaces” – wholly inadequate responses to the dangerous reality of antisemitism in schools.

AB 715 provides practical, fair tools to prevent and respond to antisemitism. It sets clear standards for constructive conversations about Jews and Israel, requires antisemitism education and prevention training, and equips schools to foster safe, inclusive learning environments – without overburdening educators.

Education is bound deep into the soul of Judaism, and many Jewish CTA members profoundly disagree with – or are unaware of – CTA’s opposition.

We call on CTA to reconsider their position, engage in good faith, and join the historic coalition of Jewish and diverse organizations working to make schools safe for our students. And we call on the Legislature to stand firmly in support of California’s Jewish students and move the bill forward. The conditions in our schools demand action now.

Undersigned Organizations: JPAC – Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California 30 Years After Agudath Israel of CA American Jewish Committee Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Board of Rabbis of Southern California Holocaust Museum LA JCC–Federation of San Luis Obispo JCRC Bay Area Jewish Center for Justice Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund JFCS Long Beach Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, Marin, the Peninsula, and Sonoma Counties Jewish Family Service of San Diego Jewish Family Service LA Jewish Federation Los Angeles Jewish Federation of San Diego Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys Jewish Federation of Ventura County Jewish Free Loan Association Jewish Silicon Valley San Francisco Hillel Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance StandWithUs Teach Coalition