Federal education officials have opened an investigation into the Baltimore City schools for antisemitism following a complaint by the Anti-Defamation League filed last month.

The ADL complaint alleged that school officials ignored incidents of discrimination and harassment by teachers and students, a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Though the Republican Trump administration has investigated 60 colleges and universities, Baltimore City is the first K-12 investigation of alleged antisemitism during Trump’s second term.

Dozens of public school districts were investigated by former Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration and during Trump’s first term. Just in Maryland, Howard, Montgomery, Carroll and Dorchester County public schools were investigated for religious discrimination under the same act in the past three years. Baltimore City was also investigated in 2023.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the investigation Thursday morning.

“The allegations that Baltimore City Public Schools tolerate virulent Nazi-inspired anti-semitic harassment of its Jewish students is at once appalling and infuriating,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. “If true, these allegations confirm a disturbing trend: too many of our nation’s educational institutions are failing American students by inculcating in them a loathing for their own country and fellow citizens and a tolerance and acceptance for a deeply destructive ancient hatred.”

The school system said in a statement that it is “committed to fostering a culture of tolerance, respect, and civility.”

“Bullying and harassment have no place in our schools, and we unequivocally reject antisemitism and hate in any form,” the statement said.

The school system said it encourages anyone with concerns about bullying and harassment to report them. When they are reported, the school system said, it will investigate and resolve them.

The ADL complaint said system leaders knew schools were hostile places for Jewish students and did not address complaints of antisemitism, harassment and bullying. Jewish parents identified problems and suggested remedies, the complaint said, but the school system ignored their concerns or didn’t take enough action.

Those incidents made Jewish students feel isolated and afraid, the complaint argued.

In one incident the ADL says that swastika graffiti appeared on a number of Baltimore school properties and that a teacher at Bard High School Early College said to the class, “I’m about to go all Nazi on you.”

Students at the Mount Washington School, an elementary and middle school, texted Jewish classmates with links to a “Zionist or Nazi?” quiz, made Nazi salutes and threatened to bring Hamas to the country, the complaint alleges.

Andre Riley, the executive director of communications for the district, said last week that he could not get into specifics about the status of the Bard High School teacher.

The district said Thursday that a “personnel action related to the teacher referenced in the ADL complaint is ongoing.”

The “right steps,” Riley said, were taken conducting the investigation on both the Bard High School and the Mount Washington school. The system is taking steps to ensure a safe environment for students, he added.

“While there may be differing views on how we may have responded to specific events, our commitment to inclusive, respectful schools has been consistent,” the school system’s statement said.

The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in education programs and activities receiving federal funding.

The investigation of Howard County schools focused, in part, on a Muslim student walk out at seven high schools following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel. The investigation concluded in January 2025 with an agreement that Howard school officials would take a series of steps to improve training of staff and students and reporting of the complaints.

While these investigations have previously been settled with school district promises to take action, the Trump administration has used them to press universities to make large payments. For instance, Columbia University paid the federal government more than $200 million to resolve its case. It is unclear if the administration might try to request financial penalties.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.