Lawsuits charge antisemitism, civil rights violations at California charter school and high school district

Parents of a former student of a San Jose charter school and six families in a wealthy Bay Area high school district file separate lawsuits.

Both lawsuits say discrimination escalated following the October 2023 attack on Israeli settlements by Hamas and the Israeli retaliation and invasion of Gaza .

In the Sequoia Union High School District lawsuit, the families claim school officials ignored and showed “a deliberate indifference to the problem” The second lawsuit was filed against University Prep Academy in San Jose .

Lawsuit claims Woodside High history teacher singled out Jewish student in history class.

Lawsuit: Teacher displayed a “Free Palestine ” bumper sticker on his classroom wall.

Plaintiff Ella K.K. returned home in tears after Gruszynski ’s classes and decided she could not participate in any further classroom discussions “without inviting further harassment” University Prep Academy says it follows its student handbook on bullying and discrimination.

A lawsuit by the Sequoia Union families cites “deliberate indifference to anti-Jewish harassment” The families are seeking the court to order a dozen remedies.

The families also call for appointing a special master to monitor compliance with the school’s educational requirements for three years .

The school district has not yet been served with the lawsuit.