Ensure Human Trafficking Prevention Education for K-12 Students

We respectfully ask for your signature on AB 1766, which will require the Instructional Quality Commission to consider providing annual, developmentally appropriate lessons for grades K-12 on preventing and avoiding human trafficking and exploitation, including how to stay safe from sexually exploitative materials and deepfakes through foundational digital citizenship skills. Children are increasingly targeted for sex and labor trafficking and online exploitation.These cases occur in rural, suburban, and urban communities and affect children across socioeconomic and demographic groups, from early childhood through adolescence. Recent research indicates that the average age of exploitation among minors is getting younger, while familial trafficking and new forms of digital exploitation are often overlooked by educators. Schools are uniquely positioned to identify and report suspected trafficking, connect students with critical services, and provide prevention education. With traffickers targeting children in and around school communities and digital exploitation rapidly evolving, students need age-appropriate education about risk factors, healthy boundaries, and behaviors that promote healthy relationships.  AB 1766 would require the Instructional Quality Commission to consider the inclusion of lessons for grades K-12 on: How to prevent human trafficking, including online exploitation and intrafamilial exploitation risks.  Help-seeking strategies, healthy boundaries and bodily autonomy. How to stay safe from sexually exploitative materials and online deepfakes.  How to recognize and report concerning behaviors.  While California currently provides some related instruction in grades 7-12, AB 1766 recognizes that children of all ages can be vulnerable. Developmentally appropriate instruction beginning in the early grades will help equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize risks, seek help, and stay safe.