What NAIS Is
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is the umbrella organization for more than 2,000 U.S. and international K-12 independent (private, nonprofit) schools. While each member school is self-governing, NAIS supplies the research, accreditation standards, conferences, and professional-development programs that set the tone for the entire sector. Because school leaders look to NAIS as the “gold standard” on equity, safety and inclusion, the association wields outsized influence over what happens on every member campus.
When Antisemitism Became a Flash Point in Independent K-12 Schools
At NAIS’s December 2024 People of Color Conference (PoCC), keynote and breakout speakers used extreme anti-Israel rhetoric – calling Israel’s very creation “racist,” labeling those killed in Gaza “martyrs,” and minimizing Hamas’s 10/7 attacks. Many Jewish educators and students reported feeling unsafe and marginalized. The incident exposed a gap between NAIS’s stated commitment to equity and its failure to recognize antisemitism as a form of hate.
ADL’s Immediate Response to NAIS
- Joint Letter: ADL and other Jewish organizations formally objected and demanded action of NAIS’s President, who later issued an apology and promised stronger vetting of future speakers.
- Parent Mobilization: Within days ADL launched a nationwide parent action hub that:
- Circulated sign-on letters demanding NAIS condemn antisemitism and take corrective measures.
- Distributed “Championing Change: How Parents and Families Can Address Antisemitism in Schools,” a practical guide for meeting with heads of school and boards.
- Provided talking points on why the PoCC rhetoric was antisemitic and how schools should communicate with affected students.
- Urged parents to ask schools to adopt ADL’s “Best Practices for Combating Antisemitism in K-12 Schools,” reinforce Holocaust education, and create robust reporting systems.
Thousands of parents from Miami to Seattle used these resources to press their schools to issue statements, review curricula and write NAIS directly.
Research-Driven Advocacy for Independent K-12 Schools
In May 2025, ADL released the first national study on antisemitism and Jewish inclusion in independent schools. Findings showed:
- 40% of Jewish students experienced or witnessed antisemitic incidents.
- Three-quarters of parents believe their schools lack clear guidance from NAIS on antisemitism.
Supported by this data, ADL is calling on NAIS to become an exemplar for its members by:
- Issuing an unambiguous condemnation of antisemitism
- Embedding clear definitions and reporting protocols in accreditation standard
- Integrating Jewish-inclusion modules into all NAIS conferences and leadership institutes
- Partnering with ADL to create a resource portal – curricula, policy templates and case studies – for every member school
NAIS Can Drive Fundamental Change
Independent schools strive to be places where every student feels safe and respected. NAIS’s prestige gives it both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead. ADL, backed by energized parent advocates, will continue engaging with NAIS to transform inertia into sustained action – so Jewish students and educators can thrive, and the association can truly model equity for the communities it serves.
What Parents Can Do to Catalyze Action from NAIS
Parents can contact their Head of School to encourage outreach to NAIS for more leadership, resources and guidance for their own school improvement efforts. NAIS is most likely to amplify their efforts when member schools request a pressing need for more support to address antisemitism and improve Jewish inclusion in their school communities.