accessibility tools
,
Post Type

Politico: ‘For Better or For Worse’: How california’s Antisemitism Bill Became a Proxy for the War in Gaza

October 17, 2025—Politico Education Reporter Eric He spoke with Public Advocates’ Managing Attorney for Education Equity, John Affeldt, about the controversial passage of AB 715, a bill aiming to address antisemitism in California schools that sparked intense debate over free speech and classroom freedoms. Public Advocates opposed the bill, citing concerns about its impact on academic freedom and classroom discussions. Affeldt, predicted there “will be many lawsuits on both sides” with claims on one side over what is deemed antisemitic followed by counter-claims over free speech violations.

Read the story.

Related Posts

Ed source: Equity advocates to ask California court to suspend billions in school construction funding

"I would love for state officials to come see where our students are going to school every day," says plaintiff Amy Campbell-Blair of True North Organizing Network—one of the voices behind Rodriguez v. State of California, which heads to an Alameda County courtroom on May 27. Public Advocates is asking a judge to freeze $3 billion in state school construction funds until California fixes a system that gives wealthy districts 2.5x more per student than low-wealth ones.

Read more

Politico Pro: Newsom sticks with controversial funding deferral in mixed-bag schools budget

"It's not a crazy maneuver given the volatility of our revenue picture" — but restraints on how much can be withheld are still warranted, says PA Managing Attorney John Affeldt on Gov. Newsom's plan to defer $3.9 billion in constitutionally-protected school funding. Politico has the full story.

Read more

Edsource: California schools could get billions more in Newsom’s final budget plan — with one catch

Newsom's May Revision brings real wins for California schools — a higher COLA, historic special education funding, and a $5 billion block grant. But Managing Attorney John Affeldt warns: a budget built on AI stock market bubbles is not a budget built to last.

Read more

View all media