Q&A
Human trafficking education in K-12 curriculum
0:59:50
·
139 sec
Council Member Farah N. Louis inquires about the current state of human trafficking education for K-12 students, particularly focusing on the gap in high school curriculum. The DOE representatives explain the current approach and potential for improvement.
- Human trafficking is included in the high school sexual health unit scope and sequence
- There's a recognized need for more specific lessons and curricula on this topic
- The DOE has a process for implementing new directives or mandates, similar to how they addressed Aaron's Law for K-8 education
Farah N. Louis
0:59:50
Thank you.
0:59:51
Shifting focus slightly, currently, New York State Education Law, specifically, sections 803aand803b mandates age appropriate human trafficking education for students in grades k through 8.
1:00:07
However, there's a noticeable gap for high school students in grades 9 through 12.
1:00:11
What curricula currently exists to address human trafficking prevention and abduction awareness for high school students?
Narrator in Shown Video
1:00:18
Yeah.
1:00:18
That's a great question.
1:00:19
We do include human trafficking in our high school scope and sequence.
1:00:22
It is explicitly one of the topic areas that that should be covered in the sexual health unit.
1:00:29
I would have to get back to you on specific lessons.
1:00:32
I would say we are always on the lookout for, you know, new curricula that, that address emerging issues like this.
1:00:39
So it is it is an expectation that it's taught, and I think there's definitely room to grow on, having materials available.
Farah N. Louis
1:00:46
Okay.
1:00:47
And how are high school educators and administrators currently equipped to provide this critical information that you said that they have some of it?
1:00:54
If the state were to mandate an expansion of this instruction to include grades 9 through 12, what steps would the DOE take, to develop and implement such curricula effectively?
Narrator in Shown Video
1:01:06
Yeah.
1:01:07
I think, I think it would be helpful in giving additional guidance.
1:01:12
Right?
1:01:12
So for grades k to 8, the the introduction of Aaron's law has really helped us sort of analyze whether our k to 8 lessons are meeting, you know, meeting these requirements around, preventing, preventing sexual abuse.
1:01:28
And so I think that that would certainly be helpful at the high school level as well, just to have, have a more standardized set of expectations for schools and that, hopefully, the the curriculum and resources would also follow.
Despina Zaharakis
1:01:41
Okay.
1:01:41
And we have a I'm sorry.
1:01:43
We have, we have a process anytime a new director or needs come through the state or through another avenue within our office, we have, you know, structures that allow us to come together, look at what is actually being asked, look at what we have, look at what needs to be developed.
1:01:59
So there's a process.
1:02:00
We've done this in the past, like Aaron's law.
1:02:03
We've that when that came out, what are we doing to make sure that we're implementing in New York City?
