New Rule 6A-1.094123 F.A.C., Child Trafficking Prevention Education: School districts must annually provide instruction to students in grades K-12 related to child trafficking prevention and awareness. It is the intent of the State Board of Education that every school in Florida be a “Child Trafficking Free Zone.”
Age-appropriate evidence-based programs used to provide instruction to students in grades K-12 related to child trafficking prevention and awareness must address, at a minimum, the following topics:
- Recognition of signs of human trafficking;
- Awareness of resources, including national, state and local resources;
- Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and drugs;
- Information on the prevalence, nature, and strategies to reduce the risk of human trafficking, techniques to set healthy boundaries, and how to safely seek assistance; and
- Information on how social media and mobile device applications are used for human trafficking.
In order to meet these mandated state requirements in grades K-5, students will receive instruction using the Safer, Smarter Kids prevention curriculum. This curriculum was carefully reviewed and selected by a school district committee. Safer, Smarter Kids is an abuse prevention curriculum that uses developmentally appropriate information to arm children with the tools and language they need to better protect themselves from abuse. This engaging curriculum will empower your child with non-frightening, meaningful lessons that will teach your child ways he or she can reduce the likelihood of being abused and how to get help from others if needed. The curriculum is taught in five to eight lessons that incorporate in-class activities and videos featuring Lauren Book, M.S. Ed., child abuse survivor, prevention advocate, elementary school educator, and CEO of the Lauren’s Kids Foundation. Some of the topics the children will study are: peer pressure, cyber safety, body boundaries, respecting themselves and others, listening to their “Guiding Voice” and using their courage to tell a trusted adult when a situation makes them feel confused or uncomfortable.
The School District of Lee County, as well as several other school Districts across the state, has chosen the Edgenuity Purpose Prep prevention curriculum to fulfill these requirements in grades 6-12. Edgenuity Purpose Prep is a developmentally appropriate, comprehensive offering with unique lessons focused on equipping students with strategies, resources and awareness related to the topics prescribed in the State Board of Education Rules.
Florida Department of Education Web page on Human Trafficking
Resources