Commissioners press for clearer DESE rubric, K'12 curriculum safeguards and stronger guidance on campus boycotts

Commissioners used the meeting to press for concrete measures on education, campus climate and the intersection of divestment campaigns with antisemitic harms.

On K'12, commissioners supported DESE's role in producing a rubric and recommended adding implementation guidance and reporting mechanisms so allegations of problematic curriculum can be acknowledged, tracked and remediated. Representative Steven Howatt and Commissioner Polanski emphasized that education about antisemitism should be integrated year-round, not confined to Jewish American Heritage Month, and that museums and cultural centers should be partners in experiential learning.

In higher education, commissioners praised existing best practices at some institutions and urged clear campus protocols for reporting, trauma-informed responses and transparency. "BDS campaigns that target Israel or individuals or institutions perceived to be affiliated with Israel are incompatible with the Commonwealth's values of inclusion, academic integrity, and equal opportunity," one commissioner proposed for inclusion in the final report language; that position was discussed among several commissioners who asked staff to draft precise findings and recommendations.

Why it matters: Commissioners said some campus campaigns and public demonstrations have created hostile climates for Jewish students and that institutions should preserve academic freedom while preventing discrimination. Several witnesses and commissioners called for clearer guidance on academic boycotts, including noting situations where campus actions may violate nondiscrimination laws or academic-freedom principles.

Next steps and funding: Commissioners asked for the report to acknowledge the financial burdens of communal security and training and to propose possible funding sources. They also recommended that the Department of Higher Education convene an annual forum for Massachusetts campuses to share best practices and data and to coordinate responses.

Ending: Staff and chairs committed to circulatING an edited draft for commissioners' review and to include more detailed, evidence-backed language in sections on DESE reporting, higher-education reporting, bystander training, museum partnerships and campus protocols.